Title
Public Safety Improvement Update
Description
The report provides an update on the progress towards the public safety improvements approved by the City Council during the September 24, 2024, Policy Session.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
Throughout the past decade, the City Council has guided the City of Phoenix to implement numerous updates and improvements to the Phoenix Police Department. Through the direction of City Council and engagement with the community, City staff have worked to improve public safety throughout the community. These efforts include reforms prior to the DOJ initiating their investigation, during the DOJ's three year review, and in developing the City's plan for the future to address the concerns raised in the DOJ's investigative report.
The City of Phoenix and the Phoenix Police Department worked with the community to implement several major initiatives prior to the DOJ's investigation. Examples of some of these major initiatives include:
- 2014: Body-Worn Camera Pilot Program,
- 2015: Crisis Intervention Team Implementation and Training,
- 2016: Community and Police Trust Initiative (CPTI),
- 2019: Mayor's Review and Implementation Ad Hoc Committee,
- 2020: #8Can't Wait Adoption,
- 2021: Executive Order on Safe Policing Compliance,
- 2021: Less-Lethal Pilot Program,
- 2021: Community Assistance Program (CAP) Expansion Approval.
Community Assistance Program
In June 2021 the City Council approved a $15 million investment to expand the Community Assistance Program (CAP). CAP consists of Crisis Response Units (CRUs), Behavioral Health Units (BHUs), and Behavioral Health dispatchers. CRUs continue to co-respond with police and fire on traumatic incidents to provide on-scene crisis stabilization. BHUs may respond as a singular unit to assist individuals experiencing a behavioral health or substance use concern or as a co-response unit. CAP has achieved many of the goals identified for its expansion. The accomplished goals include:
- The expansion of CAP added 130 FTE positions. CAP has partnered with Human Resources to complete multiple recruitments and fill 64 percent of the program's positions.
- Hired contracted Peer Support Specialists with lived experience skills that help augment the BHU services.
- Established five BHUs providing support seven days per week for 20 hours of daily coverage.
- Established six CRUs providing support seven days per week for 24 hours of daily coverage.
- Created BHUs as an alternate alternative response to incoming 9-1-1 calls that does not require police, fire, or EMS to respond to a behavioral crisis. Currently, calls transferred from police for BHU response is trending as 466 percent increase when comparing the first seven months of 2023 to the first seven months of 2024.
The DOJ announced its investigation into the City of Phoenix and Phoenix Police Department on August 5, 2021. Over the next three years, the City cooperated with the DOJ to provide more than 200,000 documents and Body Worn Camera videos, conducted interviews with over 130 City employees, and performed over 200 hours of ride-alongs with the Police Department. In additional to this collaborative effort, the City of Phoenix and Phoenix Police Department also worked to implement reforms and other improvements to enhance public safety. Improvement initiatives that have been implemented while the DOJ conducted their investigation included:
- Expansion of the Less Lethal Program
- Use of Force Policy Update
- Integrating Communications, Assessment and Tactics (ICAT) Training
- Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Training
- Staffing the Continuous Improvement Unit
In June 2024, after 34 months, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) released a findings report from its investigation of the City of Phoenix and Phoenix Police Department. The DOJ's report identified 10 specific areas of the investigation and provided 37 Recommended Remedial Measures (RRMs) to improve public safety in Phoenix. Staff conducted a comprehensive review of the DOJ's report and identified a series of recommendations based on the RRMs. On September 24, 2024, the City Council approved a series of staff recommendations and formal action items as well as additional Council-directed measures with the goal of "ensuring that Phoenix has the most professional, highly regarded public safety agencies in the nation."
This Work Study Session will provide an update on the status of each item as completed, in progress or upcoming with associated milestones and timelines.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Police Department.