Phoenix Police Department seeks public input on new policy around protests, demonstrations
Oct 1, 2024, 10:25 AM
Phoenix Police leaders are accepting public comments on their proposed policy revisions around policing large public events such as protests and demonstrations through Oct. 27. (File Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
(File Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
PHOENIX — It can be difficult for law enforcement to strike the right balance between public safety and First Amendment rights during protests and other gatherings that might turn unruly.
That’s why the Phoenix Police Department is creating a new First Amendment Facilitation and Management policy and seeking the public’s input.
A 30-day public comment period started last week and runs through Oct. 27.
A draft version of the new policy is available online in English and Spanish. Residents can click a link at the bottom of the documents to provide feedback.
The department said it will review and consider all public comments before finalizing the new First Amendment policy.
Why leaders are working on new Phoenix police policies for public events
The move to create a new Phoenix Police policy regarding protests and demonstrations reflects the department’s ongoing efforts to improve.
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Those efforts ramped up after the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation into the department’s potential civil rights violations and abuses of power in August 2021.
In 2022, city officials hired Michael Sullivan as interim police chief and tasked him with guiding the department through the investigation and leading reform efforts.
The DOJ then released a scathing report about the department’s alleged civil rights violations in June of this year.
The report accused the department of violating the rights of protestors, regularly using unjustified excessive force, targeting people of color and more.
What’s changing about Phoenix police policies?
Now, the department is trying to find better ways to handle public safety in Phoenix. Its newly released draft policy outlines how police should respond during protests and demonstrations.
It also describes the constitutional rights people have when they’re voicing their opinions in public.
Additionally, the new policy teaches officers the importance of effectively managing large crowds while ensuring everyone can express themselves freely.
It also describes citizens’ rights, including their right to free speech, record police officers and assemble in public spaces like parks and sidewalks.
The policy also defines what the arrest procedures are and how police may respond to planned versus unplanned events.
