The head of the Phoenix Police union called the Department of Justice’s findings announced against the city’s police department last week a “smear campaign.”
“This tactic is nothing more than an irresponsible and unprofessional smear campaign against the men and women who have continued to courageously serve the community amidst dangerous, inflammatory rhetoric by political activists and violent attacks from criminals,” said Darrell Kriplean, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association during a news conference the day after the DOJ’s announcement.
In a statement last Thursday, Assistant Attorney General Kristin Clarke said the investigation found “the Phoenix Police Department and the city of Phoenix engage in a pattern or practice of using excessive force; unlawfully detaining, ticketing and arresting homeless people; discriminating against Black, Hispanic and Indigenous people in its policing enforcement; violating the rights of people engaged in demonstrations and protests and discriminating against people with behavioral health disabilities.”
