On Tuesday, March 1, 2011, the Phoenix Police Department published an ENS under the title; “General Information: Audit.” In this ENS the Department finally acknowledges that their own kidnap numbers used to secure federal grant money are flawed. This after months and months of having management PR flacks engaging in media spin to defend flawed data used to secure federal dollars.
For months now Valley media outlets such as ABC 15, CBS News 5, and the New Times have been doing investigative reports on the questionable statistics. Police managements response has been to kick their PR spin machine into high gear in an attempt to defend an indefensible position.
As police officers we are expected to be truthful in all that we do. There have been times too numerous to count over the years that PLEA Board members and PLEA Representatives alike have attended DRB’s where we have had to listen to members of police management chastise officers for lack of accountability, honesty, integrity, and just plain not “fessing up” and taking responsibility for their wrongdoing as they hand out hefty suspensions and terminations…..Maybe it’s time for members in upper management of the police department to truly lead by example and take some of their own medicine instead of engaging in deception and coverup in front of their real bosses, the citizens of Phoenix. PLEA has requested to the City Manager and several City Council members to direct an outside local law enforcement agency to investigate this matter as it relates to ordinance, personnel, or policy violations.
CLICK HERE to read a statement on the inaccurate kidnapping statistic issue released by Mayor Phil Gordon on March 1, 2011.
CLICK HERE to read a letter from Councilman DiCiccio to City Manager David Cavazos and City Attorney Gary Verberg re: whistleblower protection.