Thread: Phoenix PD target of federal probe

Phoenix PD target of federal probe

Posted: 7:31 PM
By: Dave Biscobing
By: Christopher Sign

PHOENIX - Federal investigators are looking into whether the Phoenix Police Department inflated kidnapping statistics during the past years in order to get millions in stimulus funds.

According to emails obtained by ABC15, agents from the Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice have opened two separate investigations - one civil and one criminal - and have listed 11 city and police employees as potential suspects or leads. Those employees include Mayor Phil Gordon and Public Safety Manager Jack Harris.

The e-mails were sent between investigators, lawyers and Phoenix Sgt. Phil Roberts, who is a former member of the Phoenix Home Invasion and Kidnapping Enforcement (HIKE) unit.

"The issue for me and others is that the numbers are wrong...way wrong," he wrote in an e-mail to investigators.

And in another message to lawyers, he wrote, "Last Thursday (12/9/10) two Special Agents from the Denver Colorado Field Office of the the Officer of Inspector General - Department of Justice flew out here and interviewed me for 3 1/2 hours."

He continues, "They 100 percent confirmed that OIG has in fact launched two full investigations against the City of Phoenix and the Phoenix Police Department."

Phoenix Police Commander Chuck Miiller said the department had not been made aware of any federal investigations.

However, news of an investigation comes just a few months after a memo was sent from Roberts to the Phoenix city manager. That memo stated that Roberts was concerned about the police department purposefully inflating kidnapping statistics.

Phoenix has been labeled the "Kidnapping Capitol."

In recent years, kidnapping statistics provided by police have hovered around 350.

Roberts is a member of two police unions: The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association and the Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association.

Union leaders also confirmed that Roberts has been contacted by federal investigators.

The Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice did not return calls and e-mails for comment as of Wednesday evening.

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_ph ... eral-probe

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