Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio requested that the City of Phoenix explore instituting a new policy to have two police officers in patrol cars at all times. He also called for the expansion of police body cameras and a comprehensive policy on the gathering, storing and compiling of body camera video.
“There is no such thing as an unarmed person when a police officer is forced into a direct, physical confrontation, and solo officers involved in physical confrontations are at an increased risk,” Councilman DiCiccio said. “Having two officers present at all times will reduce the chances that police contacts will turn violent and improve overall police safety, and it will reduce the chances that physical confrontations will turn deadly.”
In addition to the call for a comprehensive policy on body cameras, Councilman DiCiccio requested staff study the City of Surprise’s body camera policy as a potential model for Phoenix.
“Though this is a tough time for police nationwide, I want to thank our officers for risking their lives on a daily basis. All our residents need to stand behind our brave officers, who need to know that our city believes in and stands behind them.”
Last spring a Tucson Police officer clocked a coed as she was walking down the sidewalk during March Madness celebration at the University of Arizona. The video of Mann, violently pushing Christina Gardilcic over a bench as she and two friends were peacefully passing him, went viral after the Arizona Daily Independent broke the story, and the cries of brutality came from all sectors.
Authorities claimed that Mann’s “sole intent in using the force was to protect the back of the (police) skirmish line and to keep people out of the riot area.” In the video, Gardilcic is seen on the sidewalk a distance from the partiers in the street.
Here is video from TPD Sgt. Joel Mann as the incident occurred,
Mann helmet cam
Here is the original video showing the officer hitting Gardilcic:
In this video, a young man simply walks a few steps up towards police and is immediately knocked down:
After the May 21, 2014 arrest of ASU Professor Ersula Ore, turmoil swirled through the Arizona State University Police Department. As a result, ASU named Michael L. Thompson as the new chief. The video of Ore’s arrest went viral causing national interest in the university and its police department. Ore, was walking in the campus area when she was approached by university police officer, Stewart Ferrin. He stopped Ore and demanded to see her identification. She refused, and was brutalized by the officer. Related article: New ASU police chief named http://arizonadailyindependentarchives.com/?p=56559 Tucson students get roughed up after Elite Eight game