On July 6, 2024, Sonya Massey called police to her home for help but was instead killed. The death of Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman in Springfield, Illinois, has drawn national attention to ongoing issues of police violence and the lack of significant action to address such incidents.
Body-camera footage released by the Illinois State Police shows an unarmed Massey being shot by a sheriff’s deputy while removing a pot of water from her stove. This incident has sparked widespread discussions about what went wrong and how similar tragedies can be prevented.
Massey's family has called for change, echoed by various experts and influential figures. The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office fired the officer involved, who had previously been discharged from the U.S. Army and worked at six different police departments over four years. Although he faces murder charges, there is national outrage due to the recurring nature of such events.
Despite some incremental reforms at local levels, federal progress has stalled due to political gridlock. Calls for substantial changes continue as Black communities remain disproportionately affected by police violence.
Historically, American policing has been marred by violence and racial bias. Last year alone saw police responsible for 1,352 deaths—the highest in a decade—with an estimated one million annual instances of force or threats thereof resulting in 75,000 nonfatal injuries. These dangers are particularly acute for people of color and those with mental health disabilities; Black individuals are nearly three times more likely than white individuals to be killed by police.
Police training often fosters a "threat" mindset among officers that leads to defensive and adversarial interactions with the public. Research indicates that policing strategies differ significantly between affluent White communities and predominantly Black neighborhoods.
In many areas, police are tasked with addressing social problems without appropriate training or expertise, often leading to tragic outcomes like Massey's death while underlying issues remain unresolved.
The murder of George Floyd in May 2020 ignited nationwide protests and calls for racial justice in policing; however, significant federal action remains limited.
The Biden administration's 2022 executive order on police reform aimed at comprehensive data collection and revised use-of-force standards marked progress but needs broader application across state and local agencies. Congress is urged to pass legislation like the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to enforce accountability measures including reporting requirements on use-of-force incidents and restrictions on aggressive tactics.
Beyond individual accountability measures, systemic changes are necessary for lasting public safety improvements. Programs utilizing trained civilian professionals show promise in managing social challenges without law enforcement intervention. Expanding these initiatives requires sustainable federal funding through legislative support such as the Mental Health Justice Act.
Federal grant programs should prioritize community-based safety models coordinated through local government infrastructure like Offices of Violence Prevention or independent departments overseeing community responders.
Sonya Massey's death adds another name to the list of Black individuals killed by police under routine circumstances. Federal policymakers must enact meaningful reforms to prevent further unnecessary loss of life due to police violence.
