Press Releases

On Monday, Congressman Abraham J. Hamadeh (AZ-08) thanked President Donald Trump for heeding his call to end the weaponization of the Department of Justice through the implementation of oppressive oversight of local law enforcement agencies.

President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order, Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens, on April 28, which requires the U.S. Attorney General to “review all ongoing Federal consent decrees, out-of-court agreements, and post-judgment orders to which a State or local law enforcement agency is a party…”

Congressman Hamadeh has been working with the Trump Administration including Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon to rescind the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) report on the Phoenix Police Department. 

“I am grateful to President Trump for hearing my call on behalf of our local law enforcement officers who have been unduly burdened by the weaponization of the Department of Justice,” stated Congressman Hamadeh. As I have said before, the men and women of our local law enforcement agencies run to the sound of danger, so it is only right that we run to their defense when they are under fire from political opportunists. This Executive Order does that.”

The Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association (PPSLA) and the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs (AZCOPS) issued the following statement:

Both the Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association (PPSLA) and the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs (AZCOPS) are grateful to President Trump and Congressman Abe Hamadeh for their continuing support of law enforcement.  With the President’s Executive Order, Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Civilians, we are hopeful that the political attacks against the Phoenix Police Department will finally end, and we can get back to our core function of protecting the community we serve.

Both President Trump and Congressman Hamadeh recognize the sacrifices our police officers make on a regular basis in order to keep their communities safe, and the President's Executive Order is a welcome relief from the last few years where we believe the DOJ had been politically weaponized to go after legitimate policing in local communities. This was highlighted for us by the DOJ's flawed investigation of the Phoenix Police Department, which has already cost Phoenix taxpayers millions of dollars and a demoralized, shrinking police force. This Executive Order addresses some of our biggest concerns, such as protecting the due process rights of police officers, enacting measures to go after crime in our neighborhoods, holding those in power accountable who willfully and unlawfully obstruct the enforcement of criminal law, and defending police officers who have been wrongfully accused.

We support President Trump and Congressman Hamadeh in their efforts, and we look forward to working with them in the implementation of this Executive Order.

The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) issued the following statement:

The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) supports President Trump’s recent Executive Order calling for a comprehensive review of all federal consent decrees, findings reports, and other legal agreements involving local police departments.

These federal interventions have frequently resulted in diminished police staffing levels, reduced officer morale, and have not yielded meaningful improvements in public safety. PLEA believes that local agencies must be empowered to serve their communities effectively, without burdensome federal oversight that undermines operational stability.

We commend the leadership at the local, state, and federal levels here in Arizona who continue to advocate for the law enforcement profession and the safety of our neighborhoods.  This Executive Order is a critical step toward restoring balance and accountability in how policing reforms are pursued.

PLEA remains committed to working with elected officials, community leaders, and law enforcement professionals to ensure effective, fair, and community-focused policing throughout the Phoenix area.

At the same time, the Executive Order will end those practices that “unduly impede the performance of law enforcement functions,” it will "maximize" the use of Federal resources to improve the training of officers and increase their pay and benefits. This is exactly what Congressman Hamadeh, a former Maricopa County prosecutor has been advocating for since before taking office. 

BACKGROUND:

In his letters to President Trump, AG Bondi, Director Patel, and Asst. AG Dhillon, Congressman Hamadeh notified them that, “Despite the Biden DOJ’s baseless claims, our officers did everything right, voluntarily cooperating in good faith, opening their records, and participating in lengthy interviews. They were met with stonewalling, mischaracterized testimony, and a final report riddled with glaring inaccuracies. The Biden DOJ’s claim that Phoenix Police Department officers violated constitutional standards during unrest following one of President Trump’s rallies was absurd. That claim is especially ludicrous because the Ninth Circuit affirmed that the department’s actions were lawful. The Biden DOJ ignored this and many other court-backed facts, choosing instead to cherry-pick narratives that support their political agenda.”

Read the Executive Order HERE.