After significant police support, Rep. Gallego faces backlash from progressive groups

After receiving praise for his support of Arizona police, Rep. Ruben Gallego has now drawn the ire and disappointment of some Arizona progressives for discouraging the Justice Department from imposing federal oversight of the Phoenix Police Department.

In a letter to the Department of Justice — Sent a day after the Arizona Police Association announced its endorsement of Gallego in the state’s U.S. Senate race. — The congressman said federal investigators “got it wrong” in their examination of Phoenix police.

That nearly three-year investigation concluded in June that Phoenix police had participated in a “pattern or practice” of excessive use of force, acting with bias, and violating constitutional and civil rights.

In his letter, Gallego described these violations: “Only about 120 unspecified incidents over eight years,” he wrote, as isolated, not widespread. And he argued against the need for federal oversight of the city’s police department, a position aligned with that of some Phoenix City Council members who have resisted calls from community groups for greater Justice Department involvement.

Phoenix police and city officials “already welcome the reforms,” he wrote.

Oversight, Gallego wrote, would be best left to local government.

Police back “a fucking loser”

When it was announced Monday, the Arizona Police Association’s endorsement was a blow to Gallego’s campaign.

The APA describes itself as an umbrella organization – “an association of associations” – that brings together various law enforcement entities from across the state. As such, they represent thousands of law enforcement officers in Arizona.

The previous week, APA President Justin Harris had joined Donald Trump onstage at a rally in Glendale to announce the organization’s support for the former president, someone Harris said could get our country “back on track and make America great again.”

Also on stage that day, Trump described Gallego as “a fucking loser.”

Days later, the APA endorsed that “loser”: “a Navy combat veteran” who “understands the complexities of modern policing in today’s American society,” Harris said in a statement.

“The APA does not take our endorsements lightly,” he added. “We recognize the importance of having a U.S. Senator who can bring people together to improve society for all. We believe Congressman Gallego will be that U.S. Senator.”

It’s an endorsement that should prove helpful as Gallego defends her record against Trump-backed Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake, whom the APA endorsed for governor in 2022.

While a spokesperson for Lake accused Gallego of supporting defunding the police, Harris praised the congressman for backing federal legislation to boost police officer recruitment and retention.

“Congressman Gallego has continually fought for robust and increased funding for U.S. law enforcement,” Harris said.

I just lost my vote

Gallego’s letter surprised Jared Keenan, legal director of the ACLU of Arizona.

“To act as if (the Justice Department report) somehow fails to accurately reflect – detail – the significant problems with the Phoenix Police Department is simply not true,” Keenan said.

The timing of the letter, on the heels of an endorsement from the state’s largest independent police organization, made matters worse, he said.

“It seems very transactional,” Keenan said.

“Many city officials and Rep. Gallego talk about public safety,” he added. “But true public safety cannot ignore constitutional rights. It cannot ignore the violence perpetrated by the Phoenix Police Department against members of our community. And issuing statements like this is, frankly, dangerous, because it would embolden the police not to reform.”

Power Officials in Action, a community group that routinely files complaints about police treatment of Black, Brown and Indigenous communities, He called the letter’s statements “a slap in the face” to the communities Gallego represents in Congress.

“It’s really ridiculous, after all this evidence, to say that this department can turn itself around,” said Executive Director Viri Hernandez. “They haven’t, and that’s the reality.”

Hernandez also said she was not surprised that Gallego’s letter came on the heels of the APA’s endorsement.

“Our community sees how police unions, when they endorse candidates, more often than not — every example we’ve seen — also lead those candidates to oppose accountability and transparency,” he said.

Asked whether the police endorsement was tied to the Justice Department letter, a Gallego campaign spokesman said there was “no agreement.”

“Ruben Gallego has a history of fighting for Arizona law enforcement in Congress and is proud to have the support of the Arizona Police Association,” the spokesperson said.

Poder In Action is not in the business of endorsing candidates. As a 501(c)3 organization, they cannot intervene in political campaigns. “Our goal is to expose the discrepancies, the lies of any party, Democrats or Republicans,” Hernandez said.

The organization “does not tell people who to vote for and who not to vote for,” he added.

The ACLU of Arizona doesn’t either, but Keenan personally didn’t mince words when he first responded to the letter about X.

“Looks like @RubenGallego just lost my vote.”

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