Source-led reporting
We prioritize primary documents, public records, official notices, and attributable reporting. When a source cannot be shared, we explain why.
About & methodology
The public record deserves a closer read.
PhoenixBadCops.com is a public-interest reporting project focused on police accountability, public documents, and the civic questions that demand clear answers.
Our mission
Make the record easier to find, understand, and question.
Public accountability depends on information people can actually use. We organize reporting around source documents, plain-language context, and a clear distinction between what is alleged, what is documented, and what has been verified.
We do not treat attention as evidence. Our work is designed to help readers follow the record, understand its limits, and see when it changes.
Editorial standards
Evidence first. Labels always.
Clear status language
Allegations, documents, official findings, and editorial analysis are labeled separately. A label is not a verdict.
Context over clicks
We include dates, process, and relevant public context so readers can understand what a record does—and does not—establish.
How a file is built
From document to published record.
01
Locate
Identify relevant public materials, notices, and source records.
02
Review
Read for dates, authorship, scope, and gaps before drawing conclusions.
03
Corroborate
Compare documents with additional attributable sources and public context.
04
Publish
Present the record with source notes, status labels, and corrections when needed.
Corrections policy
The record can change. So can our reporting.
When we identify a factual error, material omission, or meaningful update, we will correct the story and note what changed. Readers can flag potential corrections through the contact page. Corrections will not erase the original context; they will make the update visible.