The U.S. Justice Department says in a new report stemming from the same type of investigation done in Phoenix that police in Memphis routinely violate civil rights.
The mayor there gave a similar response to what city leaders here said before they were even told the Phoenix Police Department has systemic problems.
Phoenix’s pre-emptive push to avoid federal oversight was built on a long list of police and city reforms launched during the yearslong investigation.
Now the mayor of Memphis is also resisting oversight while citing hundreds of positive changes to his police department.
Local civil rights attorney Benjamin Taylor thinks cities are waiting to see if the Justice Department pursues oversight after President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in.
“So cities might be able to get away with police brutality if nothing is happening,” Taylor said.
Phoenix officials met with the Justice Department in September, days after the City Council approved another wide-range of changes.
According to a city spokesperson, no other meetings are currently scheduled to take place before the inauguration in January.
Taylor said there could be a merry-go-round of the Justice Department being in and out of Phoenix.
“Any administration can still pursue this in the future even if the Trump administration decides not to do this,” he said.
Taylor added that a court fight would be costly for taxpayers and could still result in federal oversight of Phoenix police.
