司法部长梅里克·加兰周四下午宣布，司法部正在对凤凰城警察局和凤凰城的警务行为展开调查。
调查将审查凤凰城警察局是否过度使用武力，是否从事歧视性警务行为，该部门是否违反了第一修正案，对抗议者进行报复，以及该部门是否歧视残疾人。
这是司法部在拜登政府期间开启的第三种模式或实践调查。今年早些时候，DOJ对路易斯维尔警察局和明尼阿波利斯警察局展开了调查。
加兰说:“每次我都注意到这些调查旨在提高透明度和问责制。“这增加了公众的信任，进而增加了公共安全。”
加兰在讲话中指出，调查的一个重要方面将是审查凤凰城警察局是否以违反宪法的方式扣押或处置无家可归者的财产，从而侵犯了他们的权利。
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美国司法部长梅里克·加兰宣布对凤凰城进行联邦调查...
加兰说:“我们的社会正通过转向执法来解决一系列广泛的社会问题，从而使警务职业变得紧张。“我们经常要求执法人员成为处理不应由我们的刑事司法系统处理的用途的第一和最后选择。这使警察的工作更加困难，增加了与执法部门不必要的对抗，并妨碍了公共安全。"
DOJ民权负责人克里斯汀·克拉克(Kristen Clarke)表示，调查是在审查了法院档案、媒体报道和公民投诉后展开的，但她拒绝透露是否有任何“最后一根稻草”导致周四的正式宣布。
她说，周四就调查一事联系了该市的地方官员，市长和警察局长“承诺全力支持”
凤凰城市长凯特·加列戈(Kate Gallego)周四在推特上发布了一份声明，称自她上任以来，警察改革一直是优先事项，她欢迎这一审查。
“这次审查产生的建议将有助于我们不断努力成为一个更加安全、更加强大、更加公平的城市，”它说。
DOJ opening investigation into Phoenix Police Department, city of Phoenix
The Justice Department is opening an investigation into the policing practices of the Phoenix Police Department and the city of Phoenix, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Thursday afternoon.
The investigation will examine whether the Phoenix Police Department uses excessive force, whether it engages in discriminatory policing practices, whether the department violated the First Amendment by retaliating against protesters and whether the department discriminates against people with disabilities.
This is the third pattern or practice investigation the Justice Department has opened during the Biden administration. Earlier this year, the DOJ opened investigations into the Louisville Police Department and Minneapolis Police Department.
"Each time I have noted that these investigations are aimed to promote transparency and accountability," Garland said. "This increases public trust, which in turn increases public safety."
Garland noted in his remarks that one important aspect of the investigation will be examining whether the Phoenix Police Department violated the rights of individuals experiencing homelessness by seizing or disposing of their belongings in a manner that violates the Constitution.
"Our society is straining the policing profession by turning to law enforcement to address a wide array of social problems," Garland said. "Too often we ask law enforcement officers to be the first and last option for addressing uses that should not be handled by our criminal justice system. This makes police officers' jobs more difficult, increases unnecessary confrontations with law enforcement and hinders public safety."
The DOJ's civil rights chief Kristen Clarke said the investigation was opened after a review of court files, media reports and citizen complaints, but she declined to say whether there was any "final straw" that led to Thursday's formal announcement.
She said local officials in the city were contacted Thursday about the probe and the mayor and chief of police "pledged their full support."
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego tweeted out a statement Thursday, saying police reform has been a priority since she took office and she welcomes the review.
"The recommendations that will result from this review will assist in our ongoing efforts to become an even safer, stronger, more equitable city," it said.
