An analysis by The Arizona Republic finds it is rare for Mesa, Ariz., police officers to face any discipline in excessive-force investigations. Mesa officers have been the subject of a number of viral videos depicting excessive force and the city has shelled out more than $1 million to settle legal claims over use of force in the past four years. But only three of 158 internal-affairs investigations into such allegations were substantiated since 2014. In those three cases, one officer was suspended, one received a written reprimand and one received training and counseling.
Some Mesa leaders are demanding that officers be held more accountable. “The community as a whole: white, black, Hispanic, believers, non-believers, everyone is tired of harsh policing,” said Andre Miller, a pastor with Mesa’s New Beginnings Christian Church. “It’s affected every economic group. It’s affected every race in this city.” Miller said the problem in Mesa has not manifested along racial lines: it’s a “humanity concern.” “When I explain it to people, I don’t make this a race thing because when you look at Mesa’s behavior, they’ve assaulted a 15-year-old Native American kid; they’ve assaulted an 80-something-year-old white grandmother; they killed a white gentleman; they shot an African-American mentally challenged gentleman not too long ago,” he said. “They don’t discriminate with who they put hands on.” Mesa Police Chief Ramon Batista already has revised policy to prevent officers from striking people’s faces or heads unless a suspect is being combative. He also has sought to make it easier for the public to raise concerns over potential harsh treatment and improve the review process when claims surface.