Fixing Phoenix

Submitted by ub on

The US Department of Justice has decided to investigate the past and present Police Department practices in Phoenix, Arizona.

Phoenix is the capital of the southwestern U.S. state of Arizona. As you can see from the image above taken early this morning by local media, This city offers year-round sun and hot weather with usually a dry climate.

The City of Phoenix anchors a sprawling, multicity metropolitan area known as the Valley of the Sun. It's also known for attracting high-end spa resorts and questionable police practices. The Justice Department initiated the Phoenix probe to examine if officers use excessive force or abuse including the homeless.

"We have reviewed court files, media reports, citizen complaints and we also considered factors that we ordinarily weigh in determining whether to open an investigation, including the nature and seriousness of the allegations, the number of allegations, the steps that a department may be taking to address the allegations and the history of the department," said Kristen Clarke, DOJ's Civil Rights Division.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said she welcomes the government's investigation, noting in a statement that "comprehensive reform of policing in the city of Phoenix has been my priority since the first day I took office."