City of Phoenix

Effort to kill light rail bankrolled by less than a dozen people, records show

BY: - August 26, 2019

A broad coalition of companies, nonprofit organizations, individuals and political action committees has invested nearly one million dollars in the effort to preserve Phoenix’s long-planned light rail expansion, a sharp contrast with the small group of about 10 well-heeled individuals who have financed the effort to stop any future light rail projects.

Judge tosses felony case against lawyer arrested during immigration rally

BY: - August 23, 2019

The felony case against Jamaar Williams that alleged he resisted arrest during a protest against inhumane treatment of migrants was tossed out by a judge Aug. 22. 

Dispatchers in Phoenix seek PTSD help, first responder status

BY: - August 15, 2019

Emergency service dispatchers in Phoenix are gearing up for a meeting with city officials in an attempt to shore up emergency funding for staff, new systems and therapy resources as nationally, dispatchers are awaiting a decision in Washington D.C. that could impact how they are classified. 

Why South Phoenix businesses want Prop. 105 to pass and stop the light rail

BY: - August 8, 2019

Business owners in South Phoenix are urging city voters who visit their neighborhood to support Proposition 105, which they view as a last resort to stop a light rail extension project from transforming their community. 

COMMENTARY

If you love the Phoenix libraries, vote no on Prop. 106

BY: - August 2, 2019

Prop. 106 would restrict library funding and freeze restoration of hours of operation at the 17 Phoenix public library locations.

jamaar williams

Assault of police officers charges dropped for protester

BY: - July 31, 2019

County prosecutors didn’t follow the recommendation of the Phoenix Police Department to charge Jamaar Williams, who was among the 16 people arrested on July 12 during an immigration protest in downtown Phoenix, with assault of police officers.    

Phoenix’s first ‘welcome center’ for migrant families now open

BY: - July 30, 2019

On Saturday, an elementary school in south-central Phoenix opened its doors to children for the first time since it closed in 2007. But instead of kids with backpacks and fresh back-to-school haircuts, it was a group of migrant children, mothers and fathers from Mexico and Honduras who stepped off a U.S. Department of Homeland Security bus and through the doors of the former Ann Ott School.

Man tackled by police during ICE protest seeks lawsuit: ‘My arrest is illegal’

BY: - July 25, 2019

Jorge Soria believes police racially profiled him, and Phil Martinez claimed police targeted him. “I know it was not a coincidence that both Phil and I are Latinos,” he said.

Phoenix PD justifies tackle of protester, wrongly claims it arrested the man arguing with him

BY: - July 18, 2019

The Phoenix Police Department said it purposely used the “element of surprise” to tackle a man to the ground while he was on a public sidewalk and giving a media interview to the Arizona Mirror during a Friday night protest. 

Phoenix Police dispatchers field abusive, threatening calls after viral video shows officers pointing guns at black family

BY: - July 5, 2019

After a video showing Phoenix police officers holding a woman with her toddler child at gunpoint for an alleged shoplifting incident went viral in June and made national headlines, Phoenix Police Department dispatchers began receiving calls from across the country in which people threatened the officers in the video, other Phoenix officers, the dispatchers themselves and their families.

Phoenix examining new system to track police conduct, mulls citizen oversight panel

BY: - July 3, 2019

Phoenix will take steps to collect and analyze data on police performance, the City Council decided Tuesday. It also is considering a survey to measure community attitudes toward police and a civilian oversight board as it works to bolster public accountability.

Jeri Williams Police Chief

Phoenix police chief no stranger to controversy

BY: - June 25, 2019

The Phoenix Police Department has been fending off controversy after controversy the past few months, but that’s nothing new to its chief. Chief Jeri Williams came back to Phoenix in 2016 from California, where she ran the Oxnard Police Department for about five years. The department has about 225 regular officers, far fewer than the […]