Phoenix PD didn’t complete investigations of critical incidents, report says [Video]

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The watchdog agency for Phoenix Police, Office of Accountability & Transparency (OAT), says the department did not do a thorough and complete investigation of two critical incidents.

OAT was created to monitor the department after it broke a national record for the number of officer-involved shootings back in 2018.

On Thursday, OAT released reports on four incidents.

In a Dec. 2022 shooting, OAT says the police department should have questioned the officer about the decision to use deadly force in the shooting. In an Aug. 2023, OAT says the department should have done a full internal investigation about how police used a K9 on a burglary suspect.

“It’s good that they’re actually finding mistakes so that way the city of Phoenix police department can actually improve,” said Valley-based attorney Benjamin Taylor.

OAT doesn’t investigate the cases themselves but monitors the internal reviews afterward.

“The principles behind OAT are good, noble, and valid. But …