DOJ launches probe into Phoenix policing practices

The inquiries mark a shift in the department's focus under Democratic President Joe Biden, who has made racial justice a priority in contrast with the administration of his Republican predecessor Donald Trump.

Phoenix, with a population of roughly 1.7 million, is Arizona's capital and largest city - and the fifth most populous city in the United States.

Attorney General Merrick Garland and Kristen Clarke, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, announced the investigation at a news conference. Garland said such probes are "aimed to promote transparency and accountability."