PHOENIX — Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen on Sunday asked the Trump administration to rescind the Department of Justice’s report on the Phoenix Police Department.
The report, which the DOJ released in 2024, documented patterns of excessive use of force, unconstitutional actions against people experiencing homelessness, discrimination against minorities and other civil rights violations.
Petersen, a Republican, made his request in a letter to Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon. He said the report was biased, inaccurate and set the Phoenix PD on a path to be locked into a costly consent decree.
“It would also have a tremendous impact on the agency’s ability to recruit and retain enough officers to service our communities,” Petersen said in the letter. “To avoid this disastrous outcome for innocent and law-abiding men, women, and children of our community, I respectfully ask your office to rescind this report.”
Why is state Senate leader critiquing the DOJ report on Phoenix Police?
Petersen’s problems with the DOJ report stem from his belief that the Biden administration didn’t disclose the experts or methodologies used while creating the report.
“Thankfully, the Trump administration has already signaled its unwavering support for law enforcement,” Petersen said in a Monday announcement. “I am heartened by Assistant Attorney General Dhillon’s track record in these areas.”
Petersen’s letter came in the wake of a March trip to Washington, D.C., in which he spoke to a host of officials within the Trump administration.
“For years, the Phoenix Police Department has been crippled by a vindictive arm of the federal government, looking to find fault with the brave men and women who serve our communities to appease radical activists targeting law enforcement,” Petersen said.
He previously spoke with Attorney General Pam Bondi about challenging the DOJ report during a March trip to Washington, D.C. He has previously referred to her as an ally who would help rectify wrongs committed against Arizona.
“I am hopeful that we can work together to end the witch hunt against the police department and release their officers to thoroughly protect our citizens from criminals seeking to cause harm,” Petersen said.
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