Public Safety Improvement Update - Citywide

The report provides an update on the progress toward the public safety improvements
approved by the City Council during the Policy Session on September 24, 2024.

THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.

Summary
Throughout the past decade, the City Council has guided the City of Phoenix in
implementing numerous updates and improvements to the Phoenix Police
Department. Through the direction of the City Council and engagement with the
community, City staff have worked to improve public safety throughout the community.
These continuous improvement efforts include reforms prior to the Department of
Justice (DOJ) initiating its investigation, during the DOJ's three-year review, and in
developing the City's plan to continuously improve public safety in Phoenix.

On September 24, 2024, the City Council approved a series of staff recommendations
and formal action items as well as additional Council-directed measures with the goal
of "ensuring that Phoenix has the most professional, highly regarded public safety
agency in the nation."

In the past six months, the Police Department has worked collaboratively with other
City Departments, including the Office of Homeless Solutions, the Fire Department, the
Office of Accountability and Transparency (OAT), along with representatives from the
Chief’s Advisory Boards with a focus on seven specific areas, namely:

· Use of Force.
· Interactions with Individuals Experiencing Homelessness.
· Stops, Searches and Arrests.
· Protecting First Amendment Rights.
· Interactions with People with Behavioral Health Needs.
· Interactions with Youth.
· Systems of Accountability.




Deliverables were assigned to each of the specific areas and incorporated the City
Council Action Items from September 24, 2024. The Police Department, via the
Organizational Integrity Bureau, facilitated the production of reports, forms, policies,
and procedures in support of the deliverables. Examples of these deliverables include:

· Updates to the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) Manual to account for
standards, thoroughness, and timeliness of investigations, including communication
requirements with community members.
· Updates to PSB processes following the outcome of an investigation.
· Launching Cultural Competency Training.
· Launching training regarding homelessness services.
· Professional Development Training for PSB Investigators.
· Development of a biennial training plan for Crisis Intervention team (CIT) Officers.
· Customer Service Training.
· Mandatory training on the Community Assistance Program (CAP), Behavioral
Health Unit (BHU), and Mobile Team resources.
· 24/7 Dispatch Coverage for CAP.
· Completion of the 20-hour Use of Force Training, which included four hours of
constitutional law training on Stop and Search, for all sworn personnel.
· Launch of the new Use of Force policies.
· Best Practice research and review for updates to policy.
· Revisions to the Subject contact Data Form to include Housing Status and services
offered.
· Development of the ‘Interacting with Individuals Experiencing Homelessness’ Policy.
· Development of the ‘Facilitation & Management of First Amendment Rights’ Policy.
· Development of the ‘Youth Interactions’ Policy, pending community input via City
Council-led survey.
· Improvements to the recruitment and on-boarding process for Communications
personnel.
· Additional training for Communications personnel focused on call diversion to CAP
& Mobile Teams.
· Addition of Inspections Sergeant positions.
· Continued monitoring of compliance with OAT recommendations.

This Policy Session will provide an update on the status of each item as completed, in
progress, or upcoming, along with associated milestones and timelines.







Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Managers Lori Bays and Inger Erickson,
Deputy City Managers Gina Montes and Ginger Spencer and the Police Department,
Fire Department, Office of Homeless Solutions and Office of Accountability and
Transparency.