Sonya Massey Commission holds first listening session, lays out roadmap

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — The Sonya Massey Commission will meet for the first time Monday night for a listening session with community members.

The commission was created by Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter and Democratic State Senator Doris Turner to discuss, research and eventually propose policy changes for at both the local and state level in response to Massey’s death.

“We wanted to look at systematic change throughout all of the systems within our community,” Sen. Turner (D-Springfield) said. “I know that in this situation and in a lot of situations, we focus on law enforcement. But there are so many other sectors that are involved that usually culminate with law enforcement or an instance with law enforcement. But we want to look at all of those different sectors and really focus and channel it into real change.”

Massey was shot and killed by now former Sangamon County Sheriff Deputy Sean Grayson in her own home after she called 911. He is being charged with her murder.

Her death has inspired numerous calls for change at several county offices, the state level and even at the federal level. The county has already seen massive upheaval since her death on July 5th. Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell resigned in August, and his Chief Deputy Anthony Mayfield also retired from the force several weeks later. Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon took over the office in the interim, but the county is expected to vote for a replacement at a special board meeting Wednesday.

The Massey Commission is meant to work separately from the County Board going forward. The board is currently co-chaired by Dean and Provost of the SIU School of Medicine Dr. Jerry Kruse, pastor at Union Baptist Church T. Ray McJunkins and chair of the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion Nina Harris. Those three board members are in the process of going through around 200 applications from the public to fill out the roster.

Sen. Turner said the plan is to complete the 12-member commission, and then form smaller task forces that focus on different issues, such as policing and mental health resources to further the conversation.

“We have identified four working groups and we will glean from those 200 plus applicants, about 15 to 20 individuals that will serve on those four working groups. And identify someone to be kind of a lead on those,” Turner said. “So at the end of the day, it will be a very community-driven process.”

The meeting will be live streamed on a special YouTube page for the commission, which can be found here .

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