Why some sergeants, lieutenants feel like Phoenix Police Department is moving in the wrong direction

PHOENIX — Recent surveys of law enforcement officials revealed widespread dissatisfaction with the way the Phoenix Police Department operates.

The level of concern about the future of the Phoenix Police Department is unprecedented, according to Ben Leuschner with the Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association (PPSLA).

In fact, a recent PPSLA survey found that less than 2.5% of respondents thought Phoenix PD was moving in the right direction, according to ABC15.

“More than 95% of the sergeants and lieutenants have significant concerns about the leadership and direction of the department,” Leuschner said in a video analyzing the results.

Police survey reveals many law enforcement leaders are dissatisfied

One of the biggest sources of disagreement comes from proposed changes to the department’s use of force policies, he told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona Morning News on Monday.

“Currently, the chief is implementing a new policy on the use of force,” Leuschner said.

The policy change is a direct result of the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation of the police department, he added. Last year, the DOJ released a massive report accusing the department of regularly using unjustified excessive force, along with other violations.

How is new use of force policy causing confusion in Phoenix Police Department?

However, the policy changes come with subjective terminology that fails to give police officers a sense of clear direction, Leuschner said.

“It’s similar to what the old policy was in some of the language, but then we have insertions of new terminology. Words such as ‘proportional.’ Force must be ‘proportional,'” Leuschner said.

The vague definition of the word proportional makes it hard for police officers out on the street to understand what they can and can’t do, he added.

“Officers are worried because they’re wondering if this is a policy that will then be used to discipline them,” Leuschner said.

Another new term confusing officers is called officer-created jeopardy, he added.

“The Supreme Court and other courts have actually held that this is not something that you can subject police officers to,” Leuschner said. “So we’re doing things here now that are different than what case law has said for years already.”

Details about police survey revealing concerns with Phoenix PD

The PPSLA findings came from a survey of 324 of its members, according to ABC15.

“We had a 79% response rate, which is very high for us,” Leuschner said. “They were telling us they really wanted to have their voices heard. That’s why we did the survey.”

This disillusionment isn’t exclusive to law enforcement officials. Less than half of Phoenix residents who responded to a December survey said they were very or somewhat satisfied with the police department overall.

“We’re just trying to let the leadership of the city know about this, ” Leuschner said. “We’re just trying to also tell the public, ‘Here’s what’s going on inside the police department.'”

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