Friday June 14, 2024
FILE PHOTO - The Department of Justice found a spate of civil rights violations, including "unjustified deadly force," in a new report.
PHOENIX, Arizona (HOL) — The Phoenix Police Department engaged in a pattern of misconduct that violated the civil rights of the city's residents, including unjustified deadly force, according to a scathing report released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
The federal agency's report detailed numerous instances of excessive force and discrimination against Black, Hispanic, and Native American residents. Officers also unlawfully detained, ticketed, and arrested homeless individuals, the report alleged.
One particularly harrowing case was the September 2022 fatal shooting of 34-year-old Somali refugee Ali Osman, which sparked widespread public outrage and resulted in a $5.5 million settlement between the city and the victim's family. Ali Osman, who had fled violence in Somalia, was living in Phoenix when the incident occurred. On the day of the shooting, officers responded to reports of a man throwing rocks at passing vehicles. Upon arriving at the scene, officers claimed that Osman was throwing rocks at their patrol car. In response, they drew their weapons and, when Osman allegedly prepared to throw another rock, opened fire, fatally wounding him.
The aftermath of the shooting was marked by intense community backlash, particularly from Somali and other immigrant communities in Phoenix. Many questioned the necessity and proportionality of the officers' response. Advocates argued that Osman's actions did not justify the use of deadly force, calling for greater accountability and reforms within the police department.
The DOJ report highlighted Osman's death as indicative of a "long-standing dysfunction" within the Phoenix Police Department. The dysfunction was characterized by a pattern of excessive force, inadequate training, and insufficient oversight. The report also noted that the department had a history of using disproportionate force in situations involving individuals experiencing mental health crises or exhibiting erratic behavior, further underscoring systemic issues.
Following the shooting, the officer was fired but did not face criminal charges. The city reached a $5.5 million settlement with Osman's family in recognition of the wrongful death and the department's liability. The settlement was one of the largest of its kind in Phoenix's history.
Ali Osman was shot and killed by Phoenix police on Sept. 24 during a confrontation with officers. Courtesy Muktar Sheikh
In addition to the financial settlement, the incident prompted calls for broader police reforms in Phoenix. These included enhanced training on de-escalation techniques, improved mental health crisis intervention, and greater community oversight of the police department.
Some of the most egregious cases documented in the report include:
- Officers shot and killed a man who was throwing rocks at their vehicle.
- Officers opened fire on a woman who appeared suicidal, shooting her ten times. They waited more than nine minutes to provide medical aid, and she later died.
- After shooting a man, officers fired multiple rounds from a "less-lethal projectile launcher" and sent a police dog to drag him. They delayed rendering aid for over nine minutes.
- Officers continued to shoot a man with stun bag rounds after he had been shot and was no longer moving. They did not attempt CPR for 15 minutes, and he was pronounced dead when they finally approached him.
- Officers used a Taser on a suicidal man who was sitting alone in a car park after pulling him from his car and pushing him to the pavement.
The report also found that between 2016 and 2022, 37% of Phoenix police arrests were of homeless people. The police were accused of unlawfully detaining, citing, and arresting homeless individuals, as well as unlawfully disposing of their belongings. The report stated that Phoenix police officers were often instructed to be "proactive" with the use of projectiles and had weapons taken away if they did not use them frequently enough. This culture contributed to officers firing their guns at people who did not pose an immediate threat and placing themselves in "tactical disadvantage" situations that increased the likelihood of using deadly force.
In response, the Phoenix Police Department said it was committed to improving policy, accountability, and training. City manager Jeff Barton stated it was taking the allegations seriously and planned to review the report with an open mind. However, the Phoenix Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 2 dismissed the findings as "full of half-truths, unsubstantiated accusations, and haphazard, illogical conclusions."
The findings in Phoenix are part of broader scrutiny and reform efforts directed at law enforcement agencies across the United States. Since 2021, the DOJ has launched 11 investigations into various police departments, including those in Louisville, Kentucky, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, where significant wrongdoing and civil rights violations were also found.