Phoenix officials say a new system for tracking when police contact people, make arrests and write tickets is now live.
The news was in an update for the City Council Tuesday on efforts to implement sweeping public safety reforms.
The City Council approved dozens of reforms last year in response to Justice Department findings that Phoenix police abuse civil rights.
Investigators said Phoenix didn’t make officers report basic enforcement information that could be searched for signs of discriminatory policing.
Technical Services Director Jody Wolf told council members that the new records management system is a major step forward.
KJZZ’s “Policing the Police” series examines the U.S. Department of Justice civil rights investigation of Phoenix by section, as well as the city’s efforts to self-impose reforms.
“Previously we could only share raw data which was often limited by inconsistencies in collection and aggregation, making analysis and interpretation difficult if not impossible,” Wolf said
Separately, Phoenix police say they will soon ask the City Council to approve buying an early intervention system to catch officers before they commit misconduct.
The council also heard there forms are about two-thirds done.
One of the remaining items is how police deal with kids. Leaders called for a policy about a year ago after the Justice Department found that Phoenix police do not account for the vulnerability of children.
Assistant Chief Jeffrey Benza said a draft will be ready for public comments later this month.
“Members of our vulnerable populations need appropriate services. We are working to improve how we interact with our youth,” Benza said.
Benza said more than 2,000 responses to a youth survey were used to help write the policy.