Information Provided by the Police Department

The Professional Standards Bureau is comprised of the Investigations Unit and the Inspections Unit.

The Investigations Unit

The Professional Standards Bureau Investigation Unit is tasked with conducting a variety of administrative investigations

Misconduct Investigations

Misconduct is the commission of any prohibited act or the omission of any act that is required. It can be defined as conduct that amounts to a violation of a City ordinance, a state, county, or federal law, or a Phoenix Police Department regulation and such violation, if sustained, could result in disciplinary action against the employee.

• Investigating allegations of serious misconduct
• Misconduct allegations including employees from different work units
• Information received six months after alleged misconduct occurrence
• Any misconduct investigation at the discretion of the Chief of Police

Police-Involved Shooting and Use of Force Investigations

• Intentional discharge of a weapon with or without injury
• Unintentional discharge of a weapon with injury
• Unintentional discharge of a weapon during a police action
• (Non-injury unintentional discharges and shootings involving animals are investigated at the field level)
• Use of force incidents resulting in serious injury

In-Custody Death Investigations

• Incidents where a person dies while in custody
• Incidents where a person dies following police contact

Driving Incident Investigations Involving Injury to a Citizen

• Incidents of injury accidents occurring during a pursuit
• Pursuit incidents that result in a police-involved shooting

Non-Investigative Functions

• Acts as a point of contact for citizen complaint reporting
• Acts as an advisor to field supervisors conducting administrative investigations
• Acts as the repository of all administrative investigations
• Manages the department’s administrative investigation records and responds to requests for public records
• Provides training about administrative investigations to other bureaus and precincts

How to Contact Us

The Professional Standards Bureau welcomes community input regarding the service provided by Phoenix Police Department employees. If you have a comment, commendation or complaint, you may call 602-262-4580, or write to us at:
Professional Standards Bureau
111 W. Monroe Street, Suite 200
Phoenix, Arizona 85003
602-262-4580
Or to use our online form Click Here

The Inspections Unit

Internal Audits and Reports

The Professional Standards Bureau Inspections Unit is responsible for conducting or overseeing all audits and reports/inspections within the Phoenix Police Department, conducted by Phoenix Police Personnel. Audits and reports provide management with independent, objective feedback on police operations. In many cases, auditors identify opportunities to improve processes and systems and make recommendations for corrective action.

The unit is responsible for the following

• Conducting all major precinct/bureau audits
• Conducting Special request audits
• Oversight of all Police Department internal audits and inspections
• Completing non-audit service reports such as:
• Weapons destruction
• Drug destruction
• Escheat process (money deposits)
• Random audits
• Special request reports

The Phoenix Police Department is a member of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). To retain membership in CALEA the Department must comply with specific auditing requirements. These standards require that every three years an audit be conducted of each major section of the department. Inspectors also conduct special request audits within the Police Department.

Personnel Assessment System (PAS) Detail

The Personnel Assessment System, (PAS), is the Phoenix Police Department's Early Identification and Intervention System. PAS was originally created to make our employees more successful. It is a non-disciplinary system designed to identify possible problematic behaviors with employees, and to offer assistance using intervention options to modify those behaviors before discipline is required.

This program will also assist in reducing future police department liability using risk management programs and techniques already in place. The department also found that by using an extensive case management system within PAS, supervisor accountability is being held to a higher standard.

On January 1, 2004, the Phoenix Police Department fully implemented PAS and began to send out Intervention Reviews. Many department employees have received training, which is an ongoing process and crucial to the success of this program. PAS is available for review to all departmental employees.
For more detailed information and frequently asked questions about PAS CLICK HERE.

Mayor’s Security Detail

This detail is responsible for transporting the mayor, providing protective services and minimizing the possibility of harm to the Mayor.