Phoenix City Council Fully Funds Office Of Accountability & Transparency

Press release from the City of Phoenix:

June 8, 2020 - 2:45 PM

PHOENIX- Today, Phoenix City Council came together in the midst of one of the most important moments in our nation's and city's history. The council previously passed a budget with partial funding for the newly created Office of Accountability and Transparency (OAT) but, our community challenged us to fully fund OAT in this year's budget. We responded to our community's request for greater accountability. By a bipartisan 7-2 vote, the council fully funded civilian oversight of the Phoenix Police Department.

Throughout 2020 Phoenix City Council has been faced with unprecedented challenges, and we've found ways to come together on important issues. We've had a robust conversation on what the future of policing in our city looks like. We've made modernizations based on national best practices, including ensuring all front-line officers have body cameras, and bringing more transparency into police operations and data.

It is imperative we build a community where every individual feels safe. Our work neither begins nor ends today. We know Phoenicians are watching what this council does, and we know the conversation our nation is having right now is many hundreds of years overdue. This dialogue should not end. It needs to go deeper and reach even more individuals. Change must continue.

This press release was produced by the City of Phoenix. The views expressed here are the author’s own.