PLEA not happy with recent decision by Phoenix Police chief on officer involved shooting
PHOENIX (KSAZ) - Excessive Use of Force is an issue police departments across the country are dealing with. In Phoenix, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) is not happy with a recent decision made by Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams.
It all stems from an officer involved shooting that happened in 2016, and on Tuesday, PLEA officials held a news conference on Chief Williams' decision that the officer involved in this shooting was out of policy. PLEA officials are accusing the chief of changing rules on the fly, and manufacturing policy on the spot.
"Apparently, officers are now expected to let criminals threaten them with deadly weapons, without responding in defense of themselves or the community," said PLEA President Ken Crane.
Crane was talking about Officer Jaime Robles, who fired at 18-year-old Jesus Parra through his windshield, after Parra drove past him in a stolen vehicle and pointed a gun at him. The incident happened in 2016, near 51st Avenue and Camelback Road.
While the County Attorney found no wrongdoing, an internal Use of Force Board found Robles out of policy, something Crane says Chief Williams agreed with.
After meeting with Chief Williams, Crane says her reasoning was because Robles shot at a moving vehicle, and she didn't like the backdrop.
"To say you can't shoot at a moving vehicle, people can use vehicles as weapons," said Crane. "They can be a very viable threat where you might have to shoot at somebody in a moving vehicle. That's why we don't have a policy that says you can't do that."
Meanwhile, Justin Harris, President of the Glendale Law Enforcement Association, says this decision puts officers and the community at risk.
"It's going to cause them to question policy. It's going to cause them to question whether or not the administration is going to stand behind the training they've received." said Harris.
FOX 10 has reached out to the Phoenix Police Department for a comment from Chief Williams, but they said she wouldn't be making a comment on Tuesday's press conference. Robles is facing a 24-hour suspension for the incident.