The Phoenix City Council recently voted to add a police accountability office containing a civilian review board.
Now the vice mayor says a proposed budget amendment in the Arizona Senate is an effort by state lawmakers to undo the city’s action.
Gov. Doug Ducey recently signed a new law requiring that police be at least two-thirds of an officer-misconduct review board.
A budget amendment proposed this week by Senate President Karen Fann would greatly expand required police participation in officer-misconduct probes beyond just a review board.
Vice Mayor Carlos Garcia said the action is a direct response to Phoenix having made an Office of Accountability and Transparency.
“This would kill any type of civilian oversight, including unbiased investigations of police misconduct,” Garcia said
A spokesperson for the police union named the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association referred a request for comment to the Arizona Police Association, which did not immediately respond to phone and social media messages.
KJZZ's Ben Giles contributed to this story.
