Sonya Massey murder: US Justice Department, sheriff's office agree on policing upgrades
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The U.S. Department of Justice and a Central Illinois sheriff's office have agreed to policing upgrades after Sonya Massey's death.
Policing Upgrades After Massey's Death
What we know:
The unarmed Black woman was shot by a former Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy in her home after calling 911 for an intruder last July.
Friday's memorandum of agreement said there was no discrimination by the sheriff's office, but local officials will do more training and report use-of-force data.
The man who shot 36-year-old Massey, Sean Grayson, was fired and is in jail on a charge of first-degree murder.
Dig deeper:
As part of the agreement, Sangamon County will be required to provide training for deputies and dispatchers in nondiscriminatory policing, de-escalation tactics, and addressing behavioral health issues, the Associated Press reports.
The county will also collaborate with local health organizations to establish a mobile crisis response unit, allowing mental health professionals to handle crises with an emphasis on de-escalation rather than traditional police methods.
Officials will strengthen their data collection and analysis of use-of-force incidents, prioritizing interactions involving people with disabilities to ensure they comply with current standards.
In addition, local authorities will review their policies and procedures to eliminate outdated practices and expand community forums to gather feedback from taxpayers.
The backstory:
On the night of July 6, 2024, Massey called deputies to her Springfield home for a suspected intruder.
Grayson and another officer responded and went into Massey's home to get information when he noticed a pot on the stove with boiling water and allowed Massey to move it.
When Massey placed the pot on the counter, Grayson allegedly drew his handgun and threatened to shoot her.
Massey apologized to Grayson and ducked for cover, but Grayson approached her and fired shots, prosecutors said.
In December, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that Grayson would remain jailed pending trial.