Phoenix City Council Approves Police Reform Measures

The Phoenix City Council unanimously approved a series of reforms aimed at increasing accountability and transparency within the Phoenix Police Department. These changes come in response to a damning Department of Justice report that accused the department of excessive force and civil rights violations. Key measures include the expansion of body-worn cameras, improved data collection on police interactions, and the establishment of a hotline for reporting misconduct. The reforms are intended to prevent a potential federal takeover of the department. The initiatives will incur an estimated annual cost of $2.5 million and include new hires for the Office of Homeless Solutions and a Compliance Analyst Team. Mayor Kate Gallego emphasized the city's commitment to long-term improvements in public safety.