Target: Merrick Garland, U.S. Attorney General
Goal: Make investment in crisis intervention training for police officers a top priority.
A shocking shooting shook the community of Springfield, Illinois. Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call from Sonya Massey, a Black woman who claimed that intruders were trying to break into her home. By the time the incident ended, Massey herself would be dead from a gunshot wound reportedly inflicted by Deputy Sean Grayson. A disturbing story emerged from audio recordings, statements provided by Massey’s mother, and accounts given by the officers.
Massey had apparently let the officers inside her home after they had searched the premises. Shortly thereafter, according to reports she picked up a pot and shouted at them. After the officers seemingly demanded that Massey put down the pot (with Grayson allegedly threatening to shoot her in the face if she did not), Grayson reportedly made good on his threat.
The case has set off a firestorm not only because of racial tensions (Grayson is a white officer with a reported history of drunk driving convictions) but also because of Massey’s seemingly long-standing mental health issues. Massey had apparently sought mental health aid multiple times in the days and weeks leading up to the incident. And Massey’s mother had even reportedly made a call to authorities prior to the shooting and pleaded with police not to hurt her daughter because of these issues. The claims have raised questions about whether officers had foreknowledge of Massey’s problems before they arrived at the scene and if this tragedy might have been prevented had authorities responded differently.
Grayson has been indicted for first-degree murder, but the reverberations of this incident still echo. Sign the petition below to urge widespread adoption and investment in a law enforcement training model that can help reverse this deadly trend and save lives.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Attorney General Garland,
A full 20 percent of fatal officer-involved shootings in the United States involve a victim who was mentally ill. In just under a decade’s time, 1,400 people have lost their lives because their mental health crisis turned deadly. The tragic case of Sonya Massey, a Black woman allegedly shot and killed by a police officer, serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of this unanswered problem.
The Memphis Model (developed after another tragedy) is more than 35 years old, yet this template for crisis intervention training has still not been adopted on a broad and mandatory scale. It provides vital training for officers in de-escalation and in mental health issues, and it has likely saved countless lives. Alternative first response units have also emerged as an increasingly prominent force in recent years.
How many more tragedies must unfold before the United States takes decisive action? Please advocate for investment in and widespread adoption of crisis intervention approaches that can prevent needless tragedy.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Kindel Media
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