They Fought the DOJ and Won: The Untold Story of the Phoenix Police Department

Courageous Leadership with Travis Yates

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Darrell Kriplean from the Phoenix Law Enforcement Officers Association reveals how his department successfully challenged the Department of Justice's pattern-or-practice investigation, resulting in a nationwide halt to consent decrees.
• Phoenix police faced a three-year DOJ investigation despite promises of collaboration
• City officials requested evidence behind DOJ allegations, which the federal agency repeatedly refused to provide
• Department created a public website comparing DOJ claims with actual body camera footage and reports
• Independent analysis found 97% of DOJ claims were misleading or false
• New legislation proposed to shift police accountability from the federal to the state level
• State-based oversight would standardize training, policies, and create more localized accountability
• A small group of Phoenix officers helped inspire other departments, like Memphis, to question DOJ tactics
Visit savephx.org to read the full report comparing DOJ claims with actual evidence, and savephx.com to see the messaging directed at city officials during this process.

Additional Articles:

DOJ Nixes Phoenix Investigation After Misleading Report

DOJ Scaps Consent Decrees
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Chapters

1. The Fight Against Consent Decrees (00:00:00)

2. DOJ's Misleading Investigation Process (00:04:22)

3. Phoenix's Unique Resistance Strategy (00:08:47)

4. Exposing DOJ's False Claims (00:15:12)

5. A National Victory and Legislative Plans (00:19:12)

6. Building a Better Accountability Model (00:22:56)

7. Final Reflections on Historic Change (00:28:35)