A federal lawsuit filed by a fired Phoenix police officer says part of department policy on the sanctity of life is unconstitutional.
Lawyers for Jesse Johnson want a jury to decide if his due process rights were trampled.
Johnson was fired by former Chief Michael Sullivan over a 2022 shooting that led to a multimillion-dollar settlement and was cited in a blistering civil rights report.
Johnson’s lawsuit says Sullivan ignored a review finding and sacked Johnson for violating the department’s sanctity of life policy.
But Phoenix police were reportedly not trained how the rule applies when they use force.
And the lawsuit says Phoenix police did not confirm if Johnson or another officer fired the fatal shot.
A city spokesperson declined to comment on pending litigation.
