We reached full deployment of our Body-Worn Camera program in 2019 for Patrol with every responding officer and sergeant equipped with a camera. Supervisors will ensure users assigned to their squad are wearing and activating their cameras in accordance with the Body-Worn Camera policy.
Police Transparency and Accountability
The Phoenix Police Department understands trust is something you earn. Our citizens deserve to know what's happening in their community, and how this department carries out its mission to protect and serve. We believe it's our responsibility to share information regarding interactions between our officers and the people they serve. The public has a right to know how we police.
Transparency is not just a slogan or a buzz phrase for us. It's a commitment. Our new interactive and updated transparency page takes that commitment to a whole new level. On the page, you will find raw data, updated statistics and videos pulling back the curtain on all we do.
From arrests, to citations, calls for service and even interactive crime maps. The dashboards are a tool we hope you will use to gain a better understanding of what's happening where you live. Want to do a deep dive into our Officer Involved Shooting data? Response to Resistance? Uniform Crime reporting? Or maybe you want to learn more about our body worn camera program. It's all there. These are just a few of the many topics we discuss in our "Frequently Asked Questions" section.
We also continue our use of what we call Critical Incident Briefings. Anytime there's a critical incident, such as an officer involved shooting, we will release the facts in video form within 14 days. During this two-week period, members of the Public Affairs Bureau will gather 911 calls, radio transmission, body worn camera footage and any other information available to present a factual picture of what happened, as we know it at the time.
An engaged and informed community is the key to earning and keeping your trust. We believe our community is safer if you know what your officers are doing, and why they are doing it. We hope you find this resource helpful and enlightening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically an allegation of misconduct is routed to our Professional Standards Bureau, what many refer to as Internal Affairs. A supervisor, sergeant or above, will review the incident for possible misconduct and/or policy violation. Allegations of serious misconduct may then rise to the level of an internal investigation conducted by PSB, or in cases of allegations of minor policy violations, be sent to the employee's work unit for further investigation by the employee's immediate chain of command.
The Police Chief may decide to temporarily assign an officer to a position with minimal or no public contact until such time as an inquiry is resolved. This allows the employee to remain productive while on duty. The decision to place an officer on administrative duty also provides investigators in the Professional Standards Bureau the ability to have them immediately respond to their office for questioning regarding the incident.
Yes. This is in accordance with labor agreements. Unless or until an investigation is concluded, due process will be carried out.
Under the direction of the Police Chief, it is the Department’s intent to administer discipline for both sworn and civilian employees in accordance with City and Department policies in a manner which is fair, impartial and consistent to all employees.
Complaints may be made either by phone to our Professional Standards Bureau, (602) 262-4580, in person at 17 S 2nd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85003, or online at Phoenix.gov Police Commendations and Complaints.
The following presentation, intended to accompany a verbal staff presentation for community groups, provides an overview of the Professional Standards Bureau and complaint process: Professional Standards Bureau Overview (PDF)
Any employee is obligated to report misconduct to a supervisor as they become aware. Employees may also report other employees suspected of fraud (embezzlement; contract fraud; vendor kickbacks; removal, loss, unauthorized destruction, or inappropriate use or waste of city money or property; falsified documents; specific danger to public health or non-emergency safety issues; or other violations of laws or regulations).
Requests for Police public records (i.e. police reports, accident reports, etc.) may be made either in person at Code Enforcement Unit, 1717 East Grant Street, Suite 100, or online by visiting Police Department Records Request. For information about other public records (including Municipal Court, Fire Department, or other City Departments) see and review the page at City of Phoenix Communications Office Find Public Records.
The Phoenix Police Department has responded to all the National Police Foundation study recommendations including the creation of the Compliance and Oversight Bureau (COB) in 2021. This involved the designing and implementation of the new Phoenix Police Department Transparency Page, which includes critical incident videos and data dashboards.