A commission tasked with investigating the murder of unarmed Black woman Sonya Massey by a white Sangamon County sheriff's deputy has released its report, recommending sweeping police reforms in an effort to prevent similar tragedies.
The 26 "calls to action" presented to the county board on Tuesday focus primarily on police reforms, including the establishment of uniform background checks and psychological screenings for all first responders and prospective law enforcement officers. One key recommendation is that the county directs all first responders to undergo these screening procedures before being hired or commissioned.
Massey's cousin, Sontae Massey, who served as a member of the commission, emphasized that the action items presented by the commission are not just recommendations, but rather a promise for change in the community. She stated, "They are a promise that this county can be different... My cousin deserved that. Your families deserve that, and our community is asking you to help us build it."
The commission's findings have shed light on the effectiveness of armed police officers de-escalating situations, particularly in cases involving mental health crises. Commission members argue that officers should not be the first line of defense when responding to mental health calls.
Massey's death sparked widespread outrage and protests in her community, with many calling for reforms in police hiring and accountability. State Sen. Doris Turner, who sponsored a measure requiring employment history disclosure during the hiring process, has said that the commission's recommendations will make a "generational change" in the community.
The commission also focused on creating a unified 911 dispatch system to respond to mental health calls, as well as training more first responders in crisis intervention strategies. Furthermore, they called for establishing a mental health board that would levy a small sales tax and allocate those funds toward local mental health programs.
While the commission is no longer meeting, its members plan to host listening sessions in the coming weeks for the public to offer feedback on recommended steps. Ultimately, the commission's report highlights the need for systemic change in law enforcement, with Sontae Massey emphasizing that this work is not about politics, but rather about creating a safer community for all.
The 26 "calls to action" presented to the county board on Tuesday focus primarily on police reforms, including the establishment of uniform background checks and psychological screenings for all first responders and prospective law enforcement officers. One key recommendation is that the county directs all first responders to undergo these screening procedures before being hired or commissioned.
Massey's cousin, Sontae Massey, who served as a member of the commission, emphasized that the action items presented by the commission are not just recommendations, but rather a promise for change in the community. She stated, "They are a promise that this county can be different... My cousin deserved that. Your families deserve that, and our community is asking you to help us build it."
The commission's findings have shed light on the effectiveness of armed police officers de-escalating situations, particularly in cases involving mental health crises. Commission members argue that officers should not be the first line of defense when responding to mental health calls.
Massey's death sparked widespread outrage and protests in her community, with many calling for reforms in police hiring and accountability. State Sen. Doris Turner, who sponsored a measure requiring employment history disclosure during the hiring process, has said that the commission's recommendations will make a "generational change" in the community.
The commission also focused on creating a unified 911 dispatch system to respond to mental health calls, as well as training more first responders in crisis intervention strategies. Furthermore, they called for establishing a mental health board that would levy a small sales tax and allocate those funds toward local mental health programs.
While the commission is no longer meeting, its members plan to host listening sessions in the coming weeks for the public to offer feedback on recommended steps. Ultimately, the commission's report highlights the need for systemic change in law enforcement, with Sontae Massey emphasizing that this work is not about politics, but rather about creating a safer community for all.
. I think it's totally reasonable to have uniform background checks and psychological screenings before hiring or commissioning officers - it's just basic human decency, you know? And I love that the commission is prioritizing crisis intervention training and a unified 911 dispatch system for mental health calls 
. We need more resources dedicated to supporting our first responders, not just arming them with guns 
. Let's hope this report sparks some real change in Sangamon County! 
. and yeah, creating a unified 911 dispatch system would help so much too 
. what really gets me is that this is still seen as a 'generational change' by some politicians 
. it should be a basic human right to live without fear of police brutality - like, come on 
.
I think it's about time we took action to prevent these senseless tragedies 
. Police reform is long overdue and these recommendations are a step in the right direction 
. It's not just about hiring more officers or arming them with guns 
, but also about training them on de-escalation techniques 
. Mental health crisis calls shouldn't be answered by armed officers, it's time to rethink that approach 
We need to listen to our communities and work together to create a safer space for everyone 
. I'm all for creating a unified 911 dispatch system and training more officers in mental health crisis response - it's about time we put people over guns 
. Sontae Massey said it best: change is coming and our communities deserve it 
. Let's keep the pressure on and make sure these reforms stick 
.
? Like, I get it, the report is out and there are calls to action, but where's the depth? Where's the analysis of what went wrong in the first place? It feels like everyone's just glossing over the systemic issues that led to Sonya Massey's death. And don't even get me started on the language used - "sweeping police reforms" is so vague 
. It's heartbreaking to think about Sonya Massey's death and the fact that it sparked so much outrage in her community 
. I'm glad they're focusing on background checks, psychological screenings, and training for first responders – these are all things that could make a huge difference 
.
. The fact that these cops weren't even armed and they still killed her is just... ugh 
. We need real change in our community, not just empty promises 
. This commission sounds like it's trying to actually make a difference, and that's what we need - people who care about the community, not just themselves 
.
these cops r gettin away w/ murder lol like literally they r gettin away w/ killin ppl & dey dont even gotta be held accountable 
. i mean cant we jst hav a system where cops gotta go thru background checks n psychological screenings 1st?? 
. & now thats wot the commission is sayin 
This whole thing just shows us that we gotta do better, ya know? I mean, Sonya's cousin is right, these actions ain't just recommendations, they're promises. And it's not just about one person's life being taken, it's about creating a system where everyone feels safe and respected.
. It's not just about preventing similar tragedies like hers, but also about creating a safer community for everyone 
.
We need to be able to rely on our first responders to respond with care and compassion, not just force. 
. It's like, we gotta make sure our officers are trained to handle these mental health crises without resortin' to violence, you know? 
. I mean, we gotta make sure our law enforcement officers are on the same page as everyone else when it comes to de-escalatin' situations... it's just common sense, you know? 
! More first responders with psychological screenings, more training on crisis intervention strategies... these are things we can do to prevent tragedies like Sonya's from happening again. Its time for us as a community to come together and demand change 
.