SW Arizona News

Rep. Michael Carbone (R-Ariz.) has joined forces with his Arizona House Republican colleagues in a letter to Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, urging her to reject any potential consent decrees put forth by the Department of Justice (DOJ). This plea comes in the wake of a two-year DOJ investigation into the Phoenix police department.

In the words of Representative Michael Carbone, "To preserve Arizona's sovereignty consistent with our state constitution, you must reject the DOJ's coercive consent decree."

The year 2021 saw the initiation of an investigation into both the Phoenix Police Department and the City of Phoenix. The comprehensive probe sought to "assess all types of use of force by PhxPD officers, including deadly force. The investigation will also seek to determine whether PhxPD engages in retaliatory activity against people for conduct protected by the First Amendment; whether PhxPD engages in discriminatory policing; and whether PhxPD unlawfully seizes or disposes of the belongings of individuals experiencing homelessness," as stated in a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs.

On Monday, anticipating the results of this investigation, this group of legislators sent their letter to Mayor Gallego. They expressed concern that a consent decree might be issued against the city - a legal order that would transfer control of the department to the DOJ. According to an article from AZ Central, such a decree aims primarily to curb or limit use of force while fostering accountability within police departments, ultimately leading to long-term policy reform.

If Phoenix were to receive such a decree, federal monitors would be appointed to oversee reform progress within its police department. Conversely, if it were declined, legal battles could ensue. In such a case, Phoenix would become America's largest city yet to reject a consent decree as per an article from AZ Central.

According to a press release from the Arizona House of Representatives, lawmakers wrote in their letter, "As you know, the DOJ has used consent decrees to remove local control from police departments in metropolitan cities across the United States. Relinquishing local control of these critical agencies to the federal government has been disastrous for both the public safety of the residents in those cities and for taxpayers. Arizonans have already suffered the drastic consequences of the DOJ consent decree over the Maricopa County Sheriffs Department for the past decade, as Maricopa County Sheriff Penzone and Maricopa County Attorney Mitchell have warned. Giving any consideration to a DOJ consent decree could very well lead to a massive exodus of police officers-at a time when the police force in Phoenix is already severely understaffed (approximately 500 officers short, according to recent reports)."

Carbone, an Arizona House of Representatives member representing District 25, took office in January. As a business owner and Republican Party member, Carbone advocates for school choice, parental freedom, election integrity, border control among other issues as per his biography on his website.