Happy new year! I’m sure many of you are looking forward to a new year and the possibility of making it better than last year. A new year brings an opportunity to make some changes and set goals for improvement.
Undoubtedly, there will be changes within our City and Department that we will have to deal with. While some situations remain unknown, we do know that the Office of Accountability and Transparency will begin staffing in January. How the office will operate remains to be seen, but it will have some sort of new impact within our Department.
The Department of Justice investigation could conclude this year, and depending on the outcome, could bring about changes for us.
It is because of your hard work and dedication that PLEA has garnered community relationships and new partnerships.
In my opinion, the largest potential change we may experience is a shift in the structure of the Phoenix Police Department. As our personnel numbers continue to drop, organizational changes will be made. Some of us have been through this before, but never with the rapidly declining number of police versus the massive development and population growth of Phoenix. Hopefully, the City will respond to ideas for hiring and retention to do something to help, but that’s just hope, so we will continue to press.
2021 continued to bring challenges to our membership, and 2022 will be no different. As demanding as this career can be, most are “rolling with the punches even though the hits keep coming.” It is so easy to focus on the negative that we forget about the positive. Try not to let the negativity fuel you. It is because of your hard work and dedication that PLEA has garnered community relationships and new partnerships. Our community wants to be involved with their police department. People recognize the sometimes unfair media portrayal of our ranks and the lack of support from some in city leadership. The majority of the Phoenix community stands with its police department and #10654 understands our plight. These community and political relationships will help PLEA continue to strive toward developments that benefit Phoenix police officers and our community.
Whatever 2022 may bring, we will continue to contend with situations for a positive outcome. I hope that your individual accomplishments for the new year are many.
Your PLEA Board wishes you and your family a safe, healthy and happy new year.
As we enter the holiday season and the end of 2021, we can’t help but reflect on the past year and hopefully begin to think about what we want to accomplish for the new year.
2021 continued to provide challenges for not only law enforcement but other professions as well. The economy is in question, COVID vaccination mandates are popular and actions of our government “leaders” can provide hours of argument.
The Phoenix Police Department is seeing an all-time low number of personnel, and if you listen to the rumors, it just seems that no one is happy working here, and it would make sense. Dealing with all of this, coupled with whatever we have going on personally, can take a toll on our attitude.
If you are one to consider the negative, remember to also think of all the good you have accomplished for the community we serve. If you are of the opinion that “it doesn’t matter, no one cares,” you are wrong. Your professionalism and dedication have been recognized time and time again by people in the community who do care and want to see positive changes for the men and women of our Department. In the last two years, PLEA has helped develop several citizen groups, business partners and individuals who see through the anti-police rhetoric and recognize that incompetent City leaders are solely responsible for the deteriorating personnel numbers within the Phoenix Police Department. These people support you because of varying reasons, but often, it is because of a firsthand interaction with a Phoenix police officer or detective. That type of interaction matters most. Speeches and rants only get us so far, but actions will always speak louder than words.
If you are one to consider the negative, remember to also think of all the good you have accomplished for the community we serve.
At the time of this writing, PLEA is making positive headway with the City for a personnel retention plan, and we also have proposals for recruitment. PLEA will always be the first to strive for improvements for our members and our Department.
While it is so easy to focus on adverse aspects of our career and the unknown future state of our Department, take solace knowing that you do have support from not only the law enforcement community here in the Valley but from a grateful Phoenix community that is slowly making positive changes. We are going to improve, but it will take time.
It goes without saying, but be sure to take the time to appreciate what matters most, your family. Don’t ever get so caught up in the nonsense that you forget to focus on what is truly important.
The PLEA Board wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.
On August 5, 2021, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a pattern-or-practice investigation into the Phoenix Police Department. As the news spread around the Valley, questions started coming into the PLEA Office about the consequences of such an investigation and what, if anything, could be done to intervene.
Many of the questions we received from the membership surrounded the topic of how the DOJ came to focus on the Phoenix Police Department. In seeking an answer to this question, the PLEA Executive Board directly asked this of three DOJ attorneys during a meeting at PLEA. In short, we were told that the DOJ has been observing Phoenix P.D. for a while. Well, our feeling is that this is a political move by a portion of elected City leadership that has a distaste for our department and a mission to abolish police services by any means possible.
So, how does this all work? We have luckily had no shortage of advice from our brothers and sisters on the West Coast and in the Southwest who are already dealing with the DOJ in their respective departments. Simply put, an investigation either warrants action or not. If a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing is found, the DOJ will attempt to negotiate an agreement with the City to take corrective action, which becomes a federal court order overseen by an independent monitor. If the DOJ cannot negotiate a reform agreement, it will then initiate a lawsuit to secure the recommended reforms.
Every person I have had the opportunity to learn from tells me that nothing good can come from DOJ involvement in a police department. I have also been told that you can’t stop the feds. Issues that are immediately mentioned by these experienced police association leaders in dealing with DOJ-controlled departments are (big surprise) a lack of officer morale, a decrease in work output and an increase in reported crime in their communities. It really isn’t hard to understand, I guess. We are already dealing with recruitment and retention problems, low morale and the ever-popular looming mandates of COVID testing, vaccination, mask-wearing and a majority of elected City leadership that does not publicly support us. Couple those existing issues with the possibility of a DOJ-controlled department, and the self-starters begin to question why they even start at all in the law enforcement profession anymore.
I have also been told by more than one police association president that the DOJ has most likely already established an arguable pattern of police conduct and that the announcement of an investigation is just the precursor to an already planned consent decree with the City of Phoenix.
If you happen to take an internet trip to some of the cities currently enduring federal intervention, you will notice there is no shortage of opinions from the media, law enforcement, government officials and citizens on the effectiveness of the DOJ. Search social media for cities such as Portland, Seattle or Minneapolis. These same cities have a dangerously low level of law enforcement personnel and a climbing crime rate. One of the cities mentioned has had to have a judge order it to hire more officers. Can the DOJ solve these issues or not? What is the metric for success?
Couple those existing issues with the possibility of a DOJ-controlled department, and the self-starters begin to question why they even start at all.
Researching surface issues related to DOJ investigations of police departments is not difficult. There are a number of articles that can be found containing subjects involving the results of investigations and arguments for and against federal involvement in municipal police departments, but there is not much in the way of confidence-instilling positivity for police employees and the communities they serve. In any regard, it seems we will soon have firsthand knowledge.
As professional pessimists, we cops normally seek out worst-case scenarios when presented with something new, looking at everything that could be wrong in an attempt to protect what we consider right. With this in mind, I would like to offer some not-too-scary observations of nearby departments that are actually under a federal consent decree and have a court monitor (remember, that is not what is happening to us at the moment). Firstly, these departments are still around — a super-important observation. These departments still have employees and most continue to hire new employees. All are still able to negotiate contracts, and some have even won compensation and benefit increases for their employees. I’m sure not all employees at these departments are happy, but that differs with each individual anyhow. I just thought I would throw that in for good measure.
The Phoenix Police Department is approaching a situation that can bring about apprehension, because of what is unknown and the feeling of a lack of any guarantee of future working conditions. If you do feel apprehensive, remember that it is normal when faced with changing situations and the unknown. Know that PLEA will continue to provide intelligent representation to our membership while seeking the latest and most accurate information to keep you up to date with our evolving department.
PLEA is proud to represent the men and women of the Phoenix Police Department. Stay focused and don’t be divided by those who manipulate our honorable profession.
Never expected and never routine. Losing a member of our police family is heart-wrenching. We are given such a short time to mourn before going back to our duties of serving our community that sometimes the reality of loss does not settle in for weeks.
Unfortunately, this is something our Phoenix police family has encountered before. Our newest brothers and sisters who may not have been on the job when we lost Commander Carnicle on March 29, 2020, now have the sad honor of knowing the loss of an officer from our family. Nothing can prepare us for these instances of the ultimate sacrifice and the reality of that sacrifice and the long-reaching effect it can have on us and our families.
Please commemorate Officer Ginarro New to ensure that the memory of the man, his deeds and his sacrifice do not pass.
Over the years, I have observed the different ways cops emotionally process a line-of-duty death. For what it is worth, I think some of these observations bear mentioning.
Line-of-duty deaths have different effects on different people, which is understandable. Never be embarrassed to ask for help. Should you find your inner voice saying, “Maybe I need to talk to someone about how I feel,” then you need to do just that. Negative emotions and stress must be dealt with and dealt with in a healthy way.
Talk with your peers. The relationships we have within our peer group are strong and can be one of the best sources of support during the most negative of times.
Consistently respect and honor our fallen, not just publicly, but privately as well. Personal reflection can help to instill a sense of direction.
The families of fallen officers should never be forgotten, for they are part of our blue family forever. These families continue to feel the sacrifice day after day. Always keep them in remembrance.
Our Brother Gino was with us for only a short time, which seems to add even more emotion to his tragic loss. We never forget those who have fallen in the line of duty. Please commemorate Officer Ginarro New with our blue family and in your own ways to ensure that the memory of the man, his deeds and his sacrifice do not pass.
By the time you read this, our contract, or memorandum of understanding (MOU), with the City of Phoenix for fiscal years 2021–2023, will have been presented to and passed by the City Council. I want to thank those of you who were able to take the time to come to the PLEA Office or attend virtual meetings explaining the proposed contract.
This contract not only provides for increased compensation, equipment stipends, trainer pay and more, but it is representative of community concerns, taking steps to address issues our City thinks are fair.
Our profession is changing. All it takes to see this is a quick glance at web news. Politicians are making new laws governing police practice, and municipal employers are modifying police policy. Read about some of the changes in our nation’s largest police departments or federal proposals on universal police policy, and you will have a good idea of what seems to be inevitable. Change can be difficult, and particularly so when policy and practice have been the same for years, but it does not have to be bad.
I want to thank those of you who were able to take the time to come to the PLEA Office or attend virtual meetings explaining the proposed contract.
Police reform is being seen everywhere, and the focus on Phoenix has intensified in the past three years, most likely because we are the largest city in the Southwest United States, and we have no formal office of oversight and are not under DOJ control. To us, the initial thought of changing any existing policy was absurd. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That argument was not enough for our elected officials, but more importantly, it was not enough for our community. Through polling, community meetings and input from our community partners, PLEA learned that most Phoenix residents support our Department, agree that we provide professional service, think we need more officers and want more transparency with the policies and procedures that allow us to enforce laws in the City of Phoenix.
I think most of us understand that we work for our community and have no problem with the flexibility needed to be a government employee. We should have understood that when applying for the job of a police officer, public scrutiny is just a part of the package. Problems do arise when we are treated unfairly for doing what we are trained to do, being accused of an action we did not commit or following a policy that we did not make. There is a difference between making a mistake that can be corrected and committing a crime, and we know that our membership is unafraid of an honest look at honest actions.
The 2021–2023 MOU continues to provide the same due process rights that Unit 4 members are familiar with, and this is the most important part of the contract because it ensures procedures that account for fairness in discipline procedures, should you find yourself the subject of an investigation for a policy violation.
PLEA has built a reputation advocating for Phoenix police officers. We have turned those efforts to educating our community partners on the realities of being a police officer and the effects of policy on us and our families, and we are having great success. The positive relationship we have with our community as a police association will only serve to help us obtain fair policy for the future generations of Phoenix police officers.
During contract negotiations, rumors tend to get out of control. Local media outlets have even heard some of these rumors and have called the PLEA Office for verification. Kind of funny, kind of not, I guess, but this is how it seems to be every negotiation cycle. We have not heard of any new rumors beyond the ones already addressed in a membership update video, but if you happen to hear anything that sounds questionable, please do not hesitate to call the office so we can clear things up. As of this writing (in the first week of February), we have yet to reach the financial portion of contract proposals. Your PLEA Negotiation Team is working diligently with the City’s negotiators to find common benefit within proposals from both sides, and we are having some success. Sometime in March, PLEA Chief Negotiator Darrell Kriplean will be able to provide more information to the membership regarding the City’s proposals, and he will also schedule the contract ratification meetings, where we can discuss the proposed contract.
Your PLEA Negotiation Team is working diligently with the City’s negotiators to find common benefit within proposals from both sides.
The legislative session is also underway at the Arizona State Capitol. The Arizona Police Association (APA) is working hard to ensure that PLEA members continue to have a strong Peace Officer Bill of Rights and that legislators understand the needs of law enforcement professionals in Arizona. APA Executive Director Joe Clure keeps the APA membership aware of the legislative proceedings while bringing attention to the bills that may or may not benefit or affect law enforcement and public safety.
PLEA will be taking part in discussion of new federal legislation for law enforcement, and I will keep the membership updated as to how the laws will affect us.
Finally, I want to say farewell to PLEA Secretary Franklin Marino. Frank retires at the end of March. During his police career, Frank has served PLEA members for more than 20 years as a PLEA representative and Executive Board member. We will miss the institutional knowledge Frank has, and his uncanny ability to remember everything since 1963. We wish Frank and Dena the best in their retirement.