African-American political and religious leaders on Monday demanded that Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and other top city brass fire the police officer who threw Councilman Michael Johnson to the ground and handcuffed him last week during an altercation that many residents described as an all-too-common occurrence in south Phoenix.

The Rev. Oscar Tillman, who heads the Maricopa County branch of the NAACP, called for Police Chief Jack Harris to step down in the wake of the early Friday morning incident.

Johnson alleges that two-year Officer Brian Authement, 27, who is White, used excessive force when he pushed the African-American councilman in the chest, wrested him to the ground and handcuffed him as he tried to check on his neighbor whose house was on fire.

Photos from the hearing | Meeting boycotted

Councilman handcuffed at fire scene



A 21-year police officer who retired in 1995, Johnson told The Arizona Republic he met with U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke over the weekend to request that the Justice Department investigate civil-rights complaints against Phoenix police.

Meanwhile, at a three-hour public hearing about the incident, Harris said he asked the FBI on Monday to conduct an independent investigation of possible civil-rights abuses by Phoenix police and monitor his department's internal probe of the incident.

"My hope is that by doing that we are showing the community we have an open process," Harris said, "that we are asking for the highest levels of review of the investigation to assure that we have done everything humanely possible . . . to make sure this investigation is completed accurately, objectively and appropriately."

At a meeting punctuated by shouting, clapping and finger-pointing, more than 100 African-American community members packed the City Council Chambers, expressing outrage at the way the officer treated Johnson.

Several testified that they or their family members have been pulled over, questioned or arrested by police because of the color of their skin.

"I feel that I'm just one of many victims," said Johnson, who did not attend the meeting but will discuss the incident at 11 a.m. today at the Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Courthouse.

At the start of the hearing, City Manager David Cavazos announced the creation of an ad hoc committee to improve police communication with south Phoenix residents and examine the root cause of why many in the region's Black and Latino neighborhoods distrust the police.

A handful of Black leaders, including state Rep. Cloves Campbell Jr. and Johnson's pastor, Aubrey Barnwell, called for Authement's badge. An Iraq War veteran, Authement remains on paid leave pending the internal investigation.

"This one incident can't be tolerated. I want to see this man removed," said Campbell, a Phoenix Democrat and owner of the state's largest African-American newspaper. "To have one person taint the reputation of our city is irresponsible. I'm asking you mayor to get rid of this guy and make sure he does not work for the city of Phoenix again."

The Rev. Tillman said he blamed Harris for the incident, saying the chief's leadership sets the tone of the entire department.

"I don't think things are going to change until we get a new police chief," said Tillman, an outspoken Harris critic. "Jack Harris, you served well, you retired. . . . It is high time you go home."

Gordon didn't share his personal views on the incident. But his deputy chief of staff, Marchelle Franklin, said the city charter prohibits the mayor or council from hiring, firing or disciplining any employee other than the city manager.

The mayor "could be removed from office if he becomes involved in any personnel-related matters," Franklin said.

Monday's special meeting, called by Gordon over the weekend, got off to an uncertain start. Johnson did not attend due to a conflict of interest. And four other council members - Sal DiCiccio, Peggy Neely, Bill Gates and Michael Nowakowski - boycotted the meeting, arguing that city leaders should not discuss the incident in public before the investigation is concluded or they receive legal advice about the matter. Without a five-member quorum, the council could not take any formal action.

The full council later discussed the incident - and potential litigation - in a closed-door session Monday afternoon.

"Very serious allegations have been made, and we need to have an investigation first," Gates said. "There's a possibility that lawsuits could be filed on both sides."

The council members' absence, however, stung some members of the audience. "I'm disappointed in that all of us took time from our schedules to be here recognizing the importance of this issue," said Barnwell, pastor of First New Life Missionary Baptist Church.

Harris said the first draft of the internal investigation would be completed in about two weeks. Authement then will have up to 21 days to review the report with a representative from the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, the police union, to ensure it is accurate. Depending on the results of the investigation, Authement could return to work, face discipline or be fired.

"We have a nationwide reputation for doing very thorough, complete, objective investigations that are based on the facts of what we are presented with and what occurred, not based on emotion," Harris said.