8 May 29th-June 4th, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | McWhirter told New Times he would continue to reference the report in lawsuits. “It still can be used in civil cases. The findings are there, so it doesn’t change anything,” he said. “In fact, it makes some of those civil cases better because if they continue these same violations after they were put on notice by the DOJ’s original report, then it shows worse conduct on their part.” Still committed to reform? The report’s rescission fully removes Phoenix from federal scrutiny, leaving police reform up in the air. For its part, the city says it is still committed to fixing the issues the DOJ identified. Phoenix has maintained that argument all along. Before the report was released, the city pushed back publicly against the suggestion that its police force required independent oversight. Councilmembers argued — as did former police Chief Michael Sullivan in a closed-door December 2023 meeting with the press — that the department can reform itself more effectively. Whether that’s true remains to be seen. Under Biden, the DOJ didn’t buy the city’s claims that it could police its own police and threatened to sue if Phoenix didn’t accept any oversight mechanisms. The city’s ability to create change also has been called into question by the bitter resignation of the head of Phoenix’s Office of Accountability and Transparency in 2024, who said city officials stifled his every attempt to make the agency “independent and robust,” like the city claimed it was. The city also created a watered-down civilian review board, which has limited powers to impose change upon the police department. Phoenix cops managed to stir up a huge controversy just months after the report was released. Last year, ABC 15 revealed two Phoenix cops had beaten and arrested a deaf, Black man with cerebral palsy, jailing him for 24 days on bogus assault charges. Arrest video publicized by the station resulted in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office dropping the charges against the man, who is now suing Phoenix over the incident. Three cops involved in the arrest were suspended by the depart- ment for only 24 hours. Despite that, city officials insist that the department is well on its way to reforming itself, having already implemented a new use-of-force policy last year. City spokes- person Dan Wilson said the city has no plans to remove mentions of the report from its website, where it posted numerous police files mentioned in the report in order to show transparency. “From the outset of this process, the City and Police Department viewed the DOJ investigation as an opportunity to evaluate our operations, reflect on areas for growth, and reaffirm our commitment to delivering the highest standard of service,” Wilson said in a written statement. He added that “significant progress is already underway and will continue as we fulfill our responsibility to serve and protect the community while building trust through transparent, effective, and constitutional law enforcement practices.” McWhirter was skeptical. “There’s no evidence they’re making such progress,” he said. Similarly, activists in Phoenix urged city officials to heed the report. “Now, more than ever, City of Phoenix leadership has a responsibility to acknowl- edge, validate, and take accountability for these findings,” Ben Laughlin of Poder In Action said in a written statement. The department is now facing a new, uncertain chapter — let off the hook by Trump but having made big promises about being mature enough to handle its business. On top of that, it’s looking for a new chief. Sullivan, who helmed the department on an interim basis since 2022, resigned last month and took his name out of consider- ation for the permanent gig. The city has restarted its chief search from scratch. Whomever they pick will face a large challenge. Sullivan pushed for some reform during his time as chief. Not coincidentally, the rank-and-file disliked him. That likely means one thing for Sullivan’s successor: If whoever takes the reins is serious about reforming Phoenix police, they’ll have to force the department to eat its vegetables. And Trump just told the cops that it’s ice cream for dinner. No Takebacks from p 6 As interim police chief, Michael Sullivan pushed for some reform measures before resigning from the job last month. (Kevin Hurley) MEET THE NEW ADDITIONS VIEW THE FULL LIST HERE Photo by Jacob Tyler Dunn Chef Stephen Jones of The Larder and The Delta Questions? Feedback? 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