'It's a joke.' Woman pillories Massey Commission, which gets final approval from board
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
On an evening where the Sangamon County Board officially voted in the Massey Commission to address police practices in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, one Springfield woman had strong objections to its setup.
"I believe it's a joke," Teresa Haley told The State Journal-Register, after pillorying the commission as "fake" in public comments made at a special board meeting at the Bank of Springfield Center Wednesday. "I believe it was put together really quickly to check the box, to say we're doing something."
The commission was called for last month by Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter and State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, with an eye towards addressing systemic issues in law enforcement practices, mental health responses and community relations.
More: 'Your hurting — we've heard it.' Massey Commission holds first listening session
Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman and mother of two children, called 911 in the early morning hours of July 6 because she thought she heard someone outside of her house, which is in an unincorporated area of Woodside Township.
Former sheriff's deputy Sean P. Grayson shot Massey in the face after a situation over a pot of boiling water quickly escalated.
Grayson's hiring by the sheriff's department has been called into question. He jumped from agency to agency before landing in Springfield in 2023. His criminal history also show he had two DUIs and a questionable discharge from the military.
The commission, co-chaired by Jerry Kruse, dean and provost of the SIU School of Medicine; the Rev. T. Ray McJunkins, pastor of Union Baptist Church and Nina Harris, chair of the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion, held its first listening session Monday.
While its 12 commissioners haven't publicly been named yet, McJunkins said following Monday's meeting that nine members are aboard, including a member of the Massey family.
Others let loose with other concerns Wednesday.
Jenna Broom said that with a lack of subpoena power, "this commission really is nothing. I hope there's a way that all records and documents requested are received."
Breonna Roberts added that "transparency in who is appointed" is needed and appointees with questionable backgrounds or insufficient experience risk the commission making "the same mistakes that got us here."
Roberts also urged the board to reconsider the commission's co-chairs.
"Sangamon County deserves better," she said.
Haley, who has her own public relations firm, is allied with the Massey family. Several Massey family members, including Sonya Massey's mother, Donna Massey, attended the meeting.
Haley said it was "disrespectful" for a commission to be formed and co-chairs named without allowing letting the commissioners decide who they want to be co-chairs.
"That's bold transparency," Haley said. "That gets people to buy into it."
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; [email protected]; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Sonya Massey Commission gets full approval despite public pushback
