PHOENIX — Phoenix taxpayers could be on the hook for about $600,000 more in police-related legal settlements, this time over traffic crashes rather than use-of-force cases.
The Phoenix City Council is scheduled to consider the two settlements at its meeting Wednesday, KJZZ reported Monday.
The two cases
Court records show both settlements stem from negligence claims filed after collisions involving on-duty officers who were behind the wheel, according to KJZZ. In both cases, the people suing were backseat passengers who were injured.
- About $400,000: A crash in May 2022 that happened as an officer was changing lanes.
- About $175,000: A collision reported near an intersection in March 2025.
Neither the passengers nor the officers involved were identified in the report, and it is not clear what vehicles the plaintiffs were riding in. Settlements of this kind typically resolve lawsuits without any admission of fault.
Why it matters
Officers drive constantly on the job, often at speed and sometimes while responding to emergencies, and crash claims are a recurring cost for big-city police departments. Settlements of this size go to the City Council for approval in a public vote, which is why these cases are on Wednesday’s agenda.
How to follow along
Phoenix City Council formal meetings are held in the Council Chambers at 200 W. Jefferson St. and are streamed live on Phoenix Channel 11 and the city’s website, phoenix.gov, where agendas are posted ahead of each meeting. Residents can also submit comments or sign up to speak on agenda items.
Thee Arizona Times will report the outcome of Wednesday’s vote.
Photo: Gage Skidmore via Flickr / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0). File photo of Phoenix City Hall.