The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association posted a lengthy statement on its website in response to statements made by Alessandra Soler, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona.

Soler wrote in a statement to the Arizona Republic, "Each time an officer recklessly fires a weapon, it contributes to the fear and anxiety many people, especially people of color, experience when interacting with police."

The Association countered, "Apparently Ms. Soler, based on her comments, believes Phoenix Police Officers are recklessly and wantonly firing deadly weapons without justification to incite fear in the minority community. Ms. Soler also chooses to engage her selective memory in order to conveniently forget the fact that almost every single officer involved shooting this year involved a suspect with an edged weapon or a firearm.  Perhaps no one has told her there are specific state statutes that allow for the use of physical and deadly force in defense of one's self or a third party. There are specific statutes that govern police use of force.  And, the statutes governing use of physical and deadly force in self defense also extend to citizens that might be put under siege by the miscreants among us in society."

The written statement by the Association went on to say, "What is 'reckless' is Ms. Soler, and others like her, who choose to propagate ill-informed opinions in order to lead people to believe that Phoenix Police Officers are shooting without justification. There's something wrong in a world where supposedly educated people would willingly have people believe the police are the bad guys and the criminals are the poor, unfortunate, good guys. We live in a society where radical groups, activist organizations, and some politicians have the aim of decriminalizing the criminals and depolicing the police."

Read the complete letter here.