OUR AMERICA: DOJ Ends Consent Decree Against Phoenix Police

By Our America |

Last summer, the Our America Foundation’s Arizona Hometown Heroes actively protested the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) proposed consent decree affecting the Phoenix City Council.

In a significant development, the DOJ has withdrawn its recommendation regarding the Phoenix Police Department (PPD), marking a victory for local advocates.

The decision is hailed as a win for community control, emphasizing that residents should have a voice in their governance.

AZ Free News reported last month that the DOJ’s reversal was influenced by determined efforts from Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R–AZ-8), who engaged directly with high-ranking DOJ officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, to advocate for this outcome.

This development counters a June 2024 action by the Biden administration’s DOJ, which issued a harsh report after investigating the PPD, citing numerous allegations of misconduct. The DOJ had called for a consent decree that would impose federal oversight on the police department.

Such a decree faced criticism as an example of federal overreach, especially given the proactive measures the PPD had already initiated to address concerns, along with robust community support.

Past interventions by the DOJ in other cities, like Seattle and Albuquerque, have demonstrated that similar oversight has often correlated with rising crime rates. Additionally, such decrees can impose financial strains on police departments, effectively undermining their operational capacity.

Empowering local control over Washington bureaucracies is a strategy believed to enhance community safety and strength.

Our America seeks to cultivate a diverse coalition that upholds foundational American values, promoting equal opportunity, mutual respect, and freedom of expression.