The police in the city of Phoenix, United States, systematically violate constitutional rights by using excessive force, attacking minorities and homeless people, according to a Department of Justice report released this Thursday.
“The Phoenix (Arizona) Police Department uses excessive force, often unjustifiably increasing the level of force in the first minutes or even seconds” of a collision, said Kristen Clarke, the department’s Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. of Justice of the United States.
“For example, Phoenix police officers shot a man, and after he fell, they shot him several times and sent a police dog to drag him to them,” Clarke said.
“The pain they caused him was extraordinary, but for nine minutes the officers did not give him medical assistance. Tragically, the man died,” he added.
You may be interested: Biden reiterates that he is “proud” of his son Hunter and will not pardon him
The 126-page report is the product of an almost three-year investigation initiated by the Department of Justice, after putting a magnifying glass on the police in cities such as Minneapolis and Louisville, where similar situations were detected.
The United States has recorded tragic episodes of police violence for decades, an issue that divides society.
Clarke added that the homeless population of Arizona’s capital “has suffered a pattern of unconstitutional conduct” at the hands of police.
“It’s historic. “It is the first time that the Department of Justice has found violations of the civil and constitutional rights of homeless people,” the office spokeswoman said at a press conference.
According to the report, 37% of arrests and summonses for minor crimes correspond to people living on the street.
The investigation also found systematic discrimination against blacks, Hispanics and indigenous people during police activity, based on statistics from the police department itself on the disproportionate treatment that minorities receive.
Read also: At least 120 million people are forcibly displaced around the world: UNHCR
“The police department says they were not aware of these racial inequalities,” Clarke said.
“But the community’s complaints (…) should have prompted the department to analyze its own data. Instead, they turned a blind eye,” he stated.
The report also indicates that the police discriminate against calls from people with disabilities, and that they violently repress protesters or citizens who protest against their actions.
“We take all allegations seriously and plan to review this extensive report with an open mind,” Town Manager Jeff Barton said in a statement.
Phoenix police have been considered one of the most violent in the United States, according to a 2018 report by the nonprofit National Police Institute.
2024-06-13 21:18:03
#Police #department #accused #excessive #force #discrimination
