The Phoenix City Council voted 6-1 to approve a $5.5 million settlement for the family of Ali Osman, who was shot and killed by police officers in September 2022. The family had filed a lawsuit against the city and police department, alleging that the officers had used excessive force in the incident. Osman, who was reported to have mental health issues, was throwing rocks at officers at the intersection near 19th Avenue and Glendale when the shooting occurred. The family argued that the police should have waited for backup and used non-lethal options instead of resorting to lethal force.
Quacy Smith, the attorney representing the family, expressed that while the settlement cannot bring Osman back, it represents a step toward accountability. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office had declined to criminally prosecute the officers involved in the shooting, citing the rocks thrown by Osman as a serious threat. Smith disagreed with this decision but acknowledged that the Phoenix Police Department has made some progress in implementing changes, particularly regarding the use of force policies. Despite the settlement, there is no dollar amount that can fully alleviate the family’s pain from the loss of their loved one.
