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The Mayor and City Council shall discuss and take action to approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Arizona Department of Public Safety for critical force incident investigations and authorize Chief Mark Goodman to sign the MOU. Discussion and Action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
The Maricopa Police Department seeks City Council approval to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) Major Incident Division (MID) for the handling of officer-involved shootings and other critical force incidents within the City of Maricopa. In accordance with A.R.S. § 41-1762, law enforcement agencies may engage an outside agency to conduct investigations into critical force incidents, including officer-involved shootings or other uses of force that result in death or serious physical injury. This practice aligns with best practices and national recommendations for ensuring transparency, objectivity, and public trust in law enforcement operations. The proposed MOU between the Maricopa Police Department and AZDPS establishes protocols for activating the MID to investigate such incidents independently. Under the agreement, AZDPS assumes full responsibility for conducting the criminal investigation, including processing the scene, interviewing witnesses, collecting forensic evidence, and submitting findings to the appropriate prosecuting authority.
This agreement serves to reinforce the City of Maricopa’s commitment to accountability, integrity, and professional excellence in policing. Utilizing an external, independent agency to conduct these investigations mitigates potential conflicts of interest and enhances community confidence in the process. It also aligns our department with national standards for independent review of use-of-force incidents. There is no direct fiscal impact associated with entering into this MOU. The investigative services are provided by AZDPS and coordinated within their existing res...
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