A new law aimed at changing a Phoenix police accountability office will not knock the city off its current pace, city officials said. The 8-month-old office is still hiring while figuring out the exact implications of the law.
Phoenix’s Office of Accountability and Transparency recently made its second hire as a new bill was signed into law this week threatening its future plans for police oversight.
The office was formally approved by the Phoenix City Council in May 2021 after public demand for greater oversight of the Phoenix Police Department, which has been at the center of numerous allegations and lawsuits in recent years. The US Department of Justice has launched an investigation into claims of abuse, excessive use of force and discrimination against the Police Department, i.e. in 2021.
The office has been tasked with investigating potential misconduct at the Police Department and could also recommend discipline and offer proposals for police and training issues. It was structured to exclude law enforcement officials and their relatives in an effort to maintain independence in investigations.
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The city opposed House Bill 2721, stating it takes away a local government’s ability to make decisions and could impact other city boards that have existed for years. It was continuing to evaluate its next steps now that the bill was signed into law, according to city spokesperson Ashley Patton.
“We are currently evaluating the implications of the bill’s final language as well as any potential action,” Patton wrote in an email to The Arizona Republic on Friday.
1 hire, 3 more on the way at accountability office
The city intends to move at its current pace with hiring and establishing the office, Patton said. The office recently made its second hire — an administrative secretary who is set to begin on Monday, according to Patton.
The hire of an administrative secretary marks the office’s second hire after Roger Smith was selected in November to serve as its first director. Smith’s first day in the new role was Dec. 6. Patton did not name who the administrative secretary is.
Interviews have also been completed for two community engagement and one research analyst positions, Patton said.
Smith previously told The Republic the office would not launch its own investigations into Phoenix police until it was staffed, which at the time he estimated would take between six and eight months to completely fill.
How HB 2721 changes plans for the accountability office
The new bill recently signed into law by Gov. Doug Ducey was created to thwart the office’s plans by requiring police officer involvement with all Arizona entities investigating law enforcement.
Those officers must be from the same agency being investigated and make up more than half of the entity’s membership, the bill states. The entities are now also required to have a majority vote in order to launch investigations or recommend discipline.
“With the passage of this bill, the state announced its intentions for OAT,” Smith said in a brief statement to The Republic. “Right up to point of passage, the City opposed it.”
“Nevertheless, OAT is moving forward in compliance with the parts of the City ordinance that are unaffected by the bill and will also be in compliance with the bill,” he continued.
Reach the criminal justice reporter at [email protected] or at 480-262-1061. Follow her on Twitter @curtis_chels.
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