Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Massey Commission has been created in response to the shooting of Sonya Massey by a Sangamon County deputy. Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter and State Sen. Doris Turner announced the formation of the commission Friday.

The Massey Commission’s mission, according to a press release, is to address “systemic issues in law enforcement practices, mental health responses, and community relations with the goal of creating tangible, practical, and equitable solutions.”

Dean and Provost of the SIU School of Medicine Dr. Jerry Kruse, Union Baptist Church Pastor T. Ray McJunkins and Chair of the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion Nina Harris will co-chair the commission.

Van Meter said, “Since the morning of Sonya Massey’s murder, Senator Turner and I have engaged in a running conversation about the tragedy, its causes, and its consequences. We have reached out to contacts in other communities who have experienced such trauma in an effort to learn from them the best path forward. The consistent advice has been: Careful listening, absolute transparency, and a firm resolve to adopt best practices. Many of the thoughtful comments at Tuesday’s County Board meeting confirm the wisdom of this advice. We are confident the well-respected Co-Chairs we have recruited will lead an open, inclusive, and conclusive process. I am confident that all of my colleagues on the county board will join in providing the funding for this endeavor. The ultimate conclusions and recommendation of this commission will undoubtedly require implementation from various levels and units of government, I am confident that the Sangamon County Board will do its part.”

Turner said, “I hope the Sonya Massey Commission honors her life by finding solutions to advance our community.”

Volunteers from diverse backgrounds, excluding elected officials, will make up the commission and will work to examine the underlying causes of Sonya Massey’s death.

McJunkins said, “My hope is that the work of this commission creates space for Sangamon County to be able to move toward what the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called the beloved community – a community governed by a shared commitment to equitable policies and systems for all.”

The goal is to produce a comprehensive report within one year. Sangamon County will fund the commission.

The Massey Family and Attorney Ben Crump said, “The establishment of the Sonya Massey Commission is a critical step toward ensuring that no other family suffers the same devastating loss. We applaud the creation of this Commission, which is charged with rigorously examining the policies, practices, and responses that have too often led to horrific injustice and tragedy. Efforts like these go beyond addressing past injustice –– they help create a future where the relationship between law enforcement and the communities it serves is one of trust and mutual respect, and where every individual is treated with the fairness and dignity they deserve. We are confident that this Commission will help us honor the memories of Sonya Massey and all those who have suffered at the hands of unjust, and all-too-often-fatal practices, ensuring that their legacies are signified by lasting and meaningful change.”

Those wishing to serve on the Massey Commission can apply at SangamonIL.Gov/MasseyCommission. The application deadline is August 30 at 5:00 p.m.

It is scheduled to be voted on by the Jail Committee on Tuesday, August 20th, followed by the Finance Committee, and then by the full County Board at the September 10th meeting.

The plan is for the commission to start the process with listening sessions in September.