When police officers cause accidents while on duty, it’s the public that often pays the price — sometimes in more ways than one. Phoenix residents may soon learn exactly how much two separate collisions involving on-duty officers will cost the city.
The Phoenix City Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to approve roughly $600,000 in legal settlements tied to the Phoenix Police Department. The two settlements stem from negligence claims connected to separate traffic accidents, both involving officers who were behind the wheel while on duty.
Two Accidents, Two Settlements
The first incident occurred in March of last year near an intersection in Phoenix. Court records indicate the officer was driving at the time of the collision. The city has agreed to a settlement of approximately $175,000 related to that crash.
The second accident took place in May 2022, when an officer changed lanes and a collision resulted. That case carries a significantly larger price tag — a settlement of about $400,000…