The Phoenix Police Department's newly implemented use of force policy is being presented as a significant shift, but from an abolitionist perspective, it remains a symbolic change rather than a substantive one. "We have built on our previous use of force policy," said Interim Police Chief Michael Sullivan, but the reality is that such policies have historically failed to prevent systemic harm.
The policy introduces the terms "necessary" and "proportional" alongside "reasonable," but these definitions remain within the same framework that has long justified police violence. Despite claims of stricter guidelines, the real issue is not how force is used but that it continues to be central to policing itself. Even as Phoenix Police added a "duty to intervene" clause and introduced so-called less-than-lethal options, the Justice Department found in 2024 that the department had a "pattern of violating civil rights" and using "excessive force, including unjustified deadly force."
The rollout of new tools and training, including a 20-hour course and mandatory policy review sessions, does little to address the root of the problem. These measures are framed as progress, but they reinforce the idea that police violence can be managed rather than prevented. As the department continues to resist a federal consent decree, it becomes clear that its priority is self-preservation, not accountability.
Public feedback was sought for the policy revisions, with more than 800 comments submitted, yet history shows that community input is often ignored when it challenges the fundamental role of policing. The pattern remains the same—police departments make minor adjustments, offer promises of change, and continue operating as they always have.
The Justice Department's findings from its three-year investigation affirm what abolitionists have long argued: policing is not broken; it is functioning as designed. While Phoenix police claim to have enacted reforms, the persistence of state violence proves that incremental changes are insufficient.
Link: AZ Family
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