Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego has been regularly campaigning for and with fellow Democrat Kamala Harris.
But the city Gallego leads has a better chance to avoid federal oversight of its police department if a Republican wins the White House.
The U.S. Justice Department — part of the executive branch — has told the city its police department has systemic problems that violate civil rights.
Phoenix was denying a need for federal oversight months before the findings were delivered.
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Taylor says the city’s problem with the feds might go away if Donald Trump gets to pick the attorney general.
“Trump has said that he’s going to really be backing the police. And having stronger immunity laws for the police he’s going to support,” Taylor said.
Gallego’s office said she did not discuss the Justice Department investigation at presidential campaign events.
Gallego’s office declined to comment on another incident involving Phoenix police that has emerged while the city maneuvers to avoid federal oversight.
A violent arrest of a disabled Black man came two months after the Justice Department said Phoenix police violate civil rights.
Now attorneys for another local man say he received third-degree burns from Phoenix police pinning him on searing asphalt weeks after the feds spoke in June.
“So this shows you that the DOJ report is pretty accurate because incidents like this are still happening,” said Taylor, who wants outside oversight of Phoenix police.
