Latest news with #PhoenixPD
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man killed in Phoenix homicide; detectives ask for Silent Witness tips
The Brief Seth Moisoff, 30, was killed in a homicide in Phoenix on Monday, May 19, police said. The shooting happened near 35th Avenue and Rose Garden Lane around 5 p.m. PHOENIX - The Phoenix Police Department is investigating a homicide that took place on Monday night. What we know Seth Moisoff, 30, was found near 35th Avenue and Rose Garden Lane with at least one gunshot wound on May 19 at around 5 p.m. He was rushed to a nearby hospital and was pronounced dead. What we don't know Police didn't provide information about what might've led up to the shooting. No suspect information was provided. What you can do Phoenix PD says homicide detectives will investigate Moisoff's death. Anyone with information should contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS. Spanish speakers can call Testigo Silencioso at 480-TESTIGO. Si tiene alguna información sobre este caso, llame a la línea de Testigo Silencioso (480-TESTIGO, 480-837-8446). You can remain anonymous.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Phoenix PD sees wave of applications as it works to fill hundreds of vacancies
The Brief The Phoenix Police Department has struggled in the last few years to fill hundreds of open officer positions. Now, it's seeing hundreds of applications a month, starting in 2025, and it's giving the department some hope that the roles will be filled, albeit slowly. Because of the staffing shortage, some officers have been removed from special assignments to fill roles that are more out in the field. PHOENIX - The Phoenix Police force says it's seeing a wave of hundreds of new applications, and it comes as the department continues its struggle to fill more than 600 vacancies. What we know The next class of recruits is the largest the Phoenix Department has seen in years. It could be in part due to new marketing strategies, as well as a shift in how young people view men and women in law enforcement. The Phoenix Police Department says new marketing strategies are attracting new recruits, and dozens preparing to graduate will slowly put a dent in the department's officer shortage. What they're saying "Historically, we've had approximately 200–250 applicants per month apply to the police department," Phoenix Police Commander William Jou said. "Just in January alone, that number reached over 500, and then in February, we reached over 400 applicants." Reaching Gen Z and Gen A requires social media. So, Phoenix PD recruiters took to Instagram. They're opting to text new applicants rather than call, and they're promoting the department's competitive pay. "The shortage has been a long time in the making," Jou said. "It's not something that happened overnight." Big picture view Over the past 5–6 years, Phoenix, like many departments around the country, has struggled to recruit and retain officers. The dip in hiring can be tied directly to 2020, when high-profile deadly use-of-force incidents, like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, shifted the public perception of police. Trevor Roberts, 23, said the wave of anti-police sentiments had no impact on his decision to become an officer. Instead, it fueled his sense of duty, and he isn't alone. A 2024 Gallup poll measuring Americans' confidence in law enforcement increased eight percentage points over the past year to 51%. It marked the largest year-over-year change in public perceptions. "I have very strong ties to my Christian faith, and I've wanted to protect people and help people when I can and do that in a community that I know and love," Roberts said. What's next It will take a while to hire and retain 600 police officers. As the department works to hire more people, they're covering the shortfall by removing officers from special assignments and are hiring civilians to cover non-police roles. They're also using technology to be their eyes and ears when patrols are in short supply. What you can do Click here to learn more about Phoenix PD's recruitment efforts.
Axios
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Additional Phoenix PD reforms will follow new use-of-force policy
The Phoenix Police Department's new use-of-force policy is the first in a series of reforms the department plans to unveil in the coming months. State of play: The department expects to have policies ready for public comment in April on the use of police dogs, youth interactions, permitting, and data collection on stops, searches and arrests. In May, draft policies will be ready for review on unattended, seized or impounded property. And in September, draft policies on accountability are expected. Why it matters: The policies will address issues raised in the U.S. Department of Justice's civil rights investigation, which found numerous Phoenix PD patterns and practices that violated constitutional rights. The intrigue: Phoenix PD says it's committed to moving forward with reforms regardless of what happens with federal civil rights investigations under the Trump administration, which is expected to take a much more hands-off approach than the Biden administration. Zoom in: The department also expects to craft new policies over the next few months on "First Amendment facilitation and management" to guide how officers respond to large-scale gatherings, vehicle and pedestrian stops, and cultural competency training, among other areas. What's next: After a policy goes up for public comment, it still could take a while before it goes into effect. Once that process is finished, the department needs to create a required training for each new policy. As an example, implementation of the new use-of-force policy took two years. Yes, but: PPD spokesperson Ryan Cody told Axios that most new policies probably won't take as long to implement as the use-of-force guidelines, which received more than 800 public comments. Catch up quick: The DOJ last June released the findings of a three-year civil rights investigation into Phoenix police in which the agency found patterns of: Excessive use of force, including unnecessary deadly force. Arresting people experiencing homelessness without reasonable suspicion of crimes and improperly seizing or destroying their property. Engaging in discriminatory enforcement against Black, Latino and Native American people. Violating the rights of protesters engaging in constitutionally protected speech. Discriminatory enforcement against people with behavioral health problems. Driving the news: PPD last week released its new policy stating that officers should use only force that's "necessary and proportional to effectively and safely resolve an incident," in addition to the previous standard that force be "reasonable." The new policy also requires that all incidents in which force is used be reported. In a statement announcing the new policy, interim police chief Michael Sullivan said the department made sure its criteria for using force were more clearly defined than in the previous policy. The policy is the result of two years' worth of effort that began shortly after Sullivan's hiring in 2022, about a year into the DOJ investigation. What they're saying: The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA), the union representing PPD officers, described the new use-of-force policy as confusing. PLEA president Darrell Kriplean told KTAR the new proportionality requirement is too subjective, expressing concerns that officers could be hurt if they're too slow to react to a threat because of the policy. Cody told Axios the addition of the "necessary and proportional" requirement was intended to more clearly define the "reasonable" standard, which was somewhat vague and subjective. What we're watching: Phoenix is looking for a new, permanent police chief. The city expects to have a list of finalists next month and to announce a new chief in April.
