Future of Phoenix's police oversight office unknown as Ducey signs bill limiting investigations

The future of Phoenix's new police oversight office hangs in the balance after a bill imposing limits on all Arizona entities investigating police was signed into law by Gov. Doug Ducey on Wednesday.

House Bill 2721 requires all Arizona entities investigating police to have membership that includes police officers from the same agency being investigated. The bill also requires those officers to account for more than half — two-thirds — of the entity's entire makeup and a majority vote in order to launch investigations into police misconduct or recommend discipline.

Rep. John Kavanagh, the bill's sponsor, previously explained he created the bill to disrupt the city of Phoenix's plans for its new Office of Accountability and Transparency. Phoenix has since opposed the bill, stating it takes away a local government's ability to make decisions and could also impact other city boards that have existed for years.

The office was formally approved by the Phoenix City Council last May after public demand for greater oversight of the Phoenix Police Department, which has been at the center of several controversies and lawsuits in recent years. The Police Department is now being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations of abuse, excessive use of force and discrimination.

The city strived to employ civilians in its new office and purposefully excluded law enforcement officials and their relatives in an effort to maintain independent investigations into potential police misconduct. The office could also make recommendations to the police chief for discipline and offer proposals for policy and training issues.

Phoenix's next steps for its new office in light of Ducey's signing on Wednesday were not immediately known. A spokesperson for the city did not immediately respond to an inquiry from The Arizona Republic.

Last August, Phoenix sued the state over a measure similar to HB 2721 that was signed into law after being slipped into the state's budget along with dozens of other policies, including one related to mask mandates. The Arizona Supreme Court ultimately determined the way those policies were passed into law was unconstitutional and they were eliminated.

It's unclear where the idea for that initial measure came from.

Reach the reporter at chelsea.curtis@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on Twitter @curtis_chels. 

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Future of police oversight process unknown after Ducey signs bill