[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/department-of-justice-finds-phoenix-police-engaged-in-misconduct-pattern\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/department-of-justice-finds-phoenix-police-engaged-in-misconduct-pattern\/","headline":"Department of Justice Finds Phoenix Police Engaged in a Pattern of Misconduct, Excessive Force, and Unjustified Deadly Force","name":"Department of Justice Finds Phoenix Police Engaged in a Pattern of Misconduct, Excessive Force, and Unjustified Deadly Force","description":"\u201cThe Phoenix Police Department and the City of Phoenix engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law,\u201d according to a scathing report by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). This pattern of misconduct includes using unjustified deadly...","datePublished":"2024-07-08","dateModified":"2024-09-19","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/author\/brianzeiger\/#Person","name":"Brian Zeiger, LLC","url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/author\/brianzeiger\/","identifier":12,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb403eca94a17a864a2072734e4c5daa47399fd028c5fabaa5499fc0d7c474cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cb403eca94a17a864a2072734e4c5daa47399fd028c5fabaa5499fc0d7c474cf?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Zeiger Firm","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.png","url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.png","width":257,"height":59}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/police-brutality-720x380-1.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/police-brutality-720x380-1.jpeg","height":380,"width":720},"url":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/department-of-justice-finds-phoenix-police-engaged-in-misconduct-pattern\/","about":["Civil Rights","Philadelphia Legal News"],"wordCount":495,"articleBody":"\u201cThe Phoenix Police Department and the City of Phoenix engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law,\u201d according to a scathing report by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). This pattern of misconduct includes using unjustified deadly force and racial discrimination when enforcing the law.Report FindingsThe DOJ opened an investigation into allegations of police misconduct in the Phoenix Police Department on Aug. 5, 2021, reviewing incidents dating back to 2016 until the time of the published report. In its 126-page report, the DOJ found the Phoenix Police Department:Uses excessive force, including unjustified deadly forceFired their guns at people who did not pose an immediate threatPut themselves in situations of \u201ctactical disadvantage\u201d that substantially increased the likelihood they would fire their weaponsImproperly use Tasers, projectiles, leg restraints, police dogs, neck restraints, compression restraints, and deadly forceRoutinely delays medical aid and employs excessive force on wounded peopleViolates the rights of people engaged in protected speech and expression, including during times of demonstration and protestDiscriminates against Black, Hispanic, and Native American people when enforcing the lawUnlawfully detains, cites, and arrests people experiencing homelessness and unlawfully disposes of their belongings (37 percent of Phoenix police arrests were homeless people between 2016 and 2022.)Discriminates against people with behavioral health disabilities when dispatching calls or assistance and responding to people in crisisTells officers to be \u201cproactive\u201d with projectiles and takes the weapons away from officers who do not use them enoughThe DOJ\u2019s findings \u201creveal evidence showing long-standing dysfunction\u201d that \u201creflect a lack of effective supervision, training, and accountability,\u201d Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said, according to the BBC.Specific Acts of MisconductSome of the specific acts alleged by the DOJ include:Officers shot a man four times and killed him after the man threw rocks at their police vehicle.Officers opened fire on a woman who appeared suicidal, shooting her ten times. They waited more than nine minutes to attend to her after she was immobile on the ground. She later died.Officers shot a man, fired multiple rounds with a projectile launcher, and sent a police dog to drag him. They did not render aid for more than nine minutes.Officers shot an armed man and continued to shoot him with stunbag rounds even though he did not attempt to get up or retrieve his weapon. The man\u2019s heart had stopped when the officers finally tried to approach him fifteen minutes later to render aid.Officers pulled a suicidal man from his car, pushed him to the pavement, knelt on his neck, held him down, and fired a Taser at the man.Contact a Civil Rights Lawyer for Legal AssistanceIf you believe you or a loved one has been the victim of excessive force by police, contact an experienced civil rights lawyer. The Zeiger Firm offers a free consultation so you can learn about your legal rights and options."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Department of Justice Finds Phoenix Police Engaged in a Pattern of Misconduct, Excessive Force, and Unjustified Deadly Force","item":"https:\/\/brianzeiger.com\/blog\/department-of-justice-finds-phoenix-police-engaged-in-misconduct-pattern\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]