Phoenix PD Implements New Gun Pointing Policy, Announces More Mental Health Training and Full Rollout of Body Cameras

At a press conference Monday Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Police Chief Jeri Williams announced that the police department is implementing three new initiatives designed to "modernize" the force.

Following recommendations from the city's Community Police Trust Initiative and a report from the National Police Foundation, Phoenix has established a new policy that requires officers to write a report every time they point a gun at a person.

Chief Williams said she expects the new "Pointed Gun at Person" (PGP) reports will help the department track how many times officers can de-escalate potentially deadly situations.

Each PGP report will be reviewed by the officer's supervisor.

In addition to the PGP reports, the Phoenix PD will be increasing officer training on responding to mentally ill subjects. Officers will not be given an 8-hour training program on "mental health first aid." Williams said the new training was developed with the aid of La Frontera Empact, a local suicide prevention organization, and Magellan Health. The new training will be added to the department's existing crisis intervention training (CIT).

Williams also announced that the department has completed the roll out of 1,700 body cameras to patrol officers. She said the issuing of cameras to the officers is ahead of schedule and she thanked Axon for helping her agency acquire 200 cameras.