| Phoenix Police Questioned for Cases of Excessive Force By Maria Springs Phoenix Councilman Michael Johnson is using his recent altercation with a police officer to shed light on alleged civil rights violations by police. Johnson, an African-American, was handcuffed and thrown to the ground by a White police officer after he tried to assist his neighbor whose house caught fire on March 19. Johnson said he only wanted to help his friend in need and expressed extreme humiliation and disappointment for what had happened. He said that when he tried to speak to the officer and asked to speak with his supervisor, the officer told him "it doesn't work that way." Initially, Johnson and his supports didn't peg the incident as racially motivated. But later at a press conference, Johnson expressed that while he could not confirm a racial motivation behind it he does feel his civil rights were violated. Johnson, a 20-year veteran police officer and homicide detective, said he supports the Phoenix Police Department but thinks that there is a possible corruption that needs to be recognized and dealt with. "There is an abuse of power that extends from citizen citations to verbal disrespect, racial slurs and physical abuse," Johnson said. "We've received numerous complaints from citizens and I want to use this incident to bring light to them." Johnson and his supporters are working with the FBI and internal affairs to investigate the situation and allegations. Public Safety Manager Jack Harris said that the police department is investigating the issue and he has also asked the FBI to be involved. Harris said that everyone should "avoid reaching conclusions about what transpired until the facts surrounding the incident have been reported and all persons involved have been afforded their due process." Vice Mayor Michael Nowakowski said the city will not tolerate any kind of culture abuse that has been overlooked in the past. "We support these officers, but we need to get rid of any bad apples that have been causing such problems," Nowakowski said. "This may be a blessing in disguise that can unite our community and fight for unity." The officer, 27-year-old Brian Authement, claims Johnson assaulted him. Phoenix police spokesperson Sergeant Trent Crump said that close to 700,000 calls have been dispatched to the police in the past two years and less than .02 percent of those have resulted in forceful or violent incidents. "When an allegation of excessive force is made by a citizen or a department employee, an investigation is conducted by either the immediate supervisor or by the department's Professional Standards Bureau, depending on the severity of the incident," Crump said. The confrontation has triggered many citizens to voice outrage and come forward with similar cases. A phoenix woman, Vanessa Lewis, said at Johnson's press conference that an officer who pulled her over late one night last week offered to let her go in exchange for sex. An attorney for Johnson, Burt Russell, gave an example of another client of his, a woman who was forced to the ground and beaten by officers outside her apartment when trying to find out why the police were there with her daughter. As investigations ensue, Johnson and his supporters are waiting for answers. "My focus is on the complaints
of the citizens," Johnson said. "To all those who think the rules don't
apply to them, you are wrong. This is the way it works. The rules that apply to
the city apply to us all."
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