The Daily Populous Monday March 23rd, 2026 night edition
Authored by abc15.com and submitted by Unusual-State1827

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Police Department will not discipline any officers for their roles in a massive city scandal where officials invented a fake gang and then falsely charged protesters as members back in 2020.

In a press release, the department wrote that six officers were internally investigated with Chief Matt Giordano ultimately determining that three violated policy.

See our original investigation into this incident in the player below.

Politically Charged: Officials create ‘fictional’ gang to punish Phoenix protesters

POLITICALLY CHARGED: See full ABC15 investigation into protest arrests

However, sources tell ABC15 all three officers who violated policy are now retired and can’t be disciplined.

One of the key officials involved in the gang charges was Sgt. Doug McBride, who was the officer who misled a grand jury to secure the indictment, records show.

The court called his testimony “egregious.”

Read the official summary of the internal investigation below.

McBride retired in December 2025 before the internal investigation was completed, and he now collects a $98,000 annual pension.

The scandal largely began following the arrest of a group of 17 protesters on October 21, 2020. In the days after the arrest, Phoenix officers and county prosecutors colluded to invent a gang and then falsely charge the protesters as members.

The city and county stood by the charges until February 2021, when ABC15 launched its “Politically Charged” investigation.

The news series exposed how Phoenix police and county prosecutors lied to a grand jury to obtain the gang charges and testified that the protesters were comparable to the Bloods, Crips, and Hells Angels, according to a confidential transcript obtained by ABC15.

ABC15 is committed to finding the answers you need and holding those accountable. Submit your news tip to Investigators@abc15.com

As a direct result of ABC15's investigation, more than 40 felony protest cases were dismissed, the city and county admitted to widespread failures with the arrests, and the lead prosecutor was suspended from practicing law for at least two years and may never practice again.

In 2021, ABC15 debuted an hour-long special, showcasing the culmination of more than 50 in-depth reports. See the full 'Politically Charged' special here.

A large collection of the falsely charged protesters also joined to file a lawsuit against the City of Phoenix and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

The county agreed to settle its half of the case last December for $6 million.

After the large settlement, most of the protesters dropped out of the case.

For the remaining claims against Phoenix, two people now remain in the lawsuit: Ryder Collins and Bruce Franks Jr.

WATCH as Chief Giordano sits down with ABC15 to discuss the investigation and decision not to discipline the officers

Chief Giordano discusses why officer will not be disciplined in false arrest of protesters

The Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association expressed disappointment in the internal investigation's outcome.

“We do not believe Sergeant McBride violated our policies, and we will be responding to this report in due time," PPSLA President Ben Leuschner said.

“Policy violations that impact people’s rights and trust in government are serious and must be addressed,” City Councilwoman Ann O'Brien said in an email to ABC15. She added, since 2020, the city had strengthened training and increased transparency.

Mass Liberation AZ, which promotes investing in community solutions instead of police, said the report “is part of a long, coordinated process built on deliberate delay, deflection, and institutional self-protection."

Prior to the release of the internal investigation report, ABC15 interviewed one of the protesters from 2020. Marysa Leyva questioned whether Phoenix Police could hold its officers accountable.

"It's up to the community to organize and force change," Leyva said. "The only reason there was an investigation into this in the first place was because of [ABC15's] reporting and community organizations like Mass Lib.”

techman710 on March 22nd, 2026 at 13:29 UTC »

Watching this unfold was amazing. To see an entire justice system being used as a weapon against a few non violent demonstrators was a warning to all of us. Also, Dave Biscobing is an amazing reporter.

theknyte on March 22nd, 2026 at 13:13 UTC »

According to the article, the 3 responsible can't be disciplined, as they all conveniently retired.

What a stupid ass loophole.

Moneyshot_ITF on March 22nd, 2026 at 13:04 UTC »

Phoenix PD is notoriously corrupt and have been in trouble with the FBI multiple times for infringement of citizens rights