Citing the fatal police shooting of Sonya Massey in Illinois last month, state Senator Angela McKnight (D-31) is again calling for civilian complaint review boards (CCRBs) in New Jersey.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“ … The horrific killing of Sonya Massey by an officer with a lengthy history of misconduct shows us yet again that more must be done to hold police accountable and stop the deadly use of force on people with mental health issues,” McKnight said in a statement.
“It is unacceptable that individuals experiencing mental health challenges, particularly women and people of color, cannot safely seek assistance from law enforcement without fearing for their lives. We must continue to rethink policing and implement policies that protect our most vulnerable from harm when calling for help.”
Massey, 36, was fatally shot by Illinois Sheriff Sean Grayson on July 6th after she called 911 during a mental health crisis.
Grayson is facing intense scrutiny for behavior that occurred prior to the shooting, of which he was indicted for murder. He was also discharged from the U.S. Army for misconduct, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence twice, and facing discipline at a prior law enforcement job for hitting a deer with a squad car while on duty, NBC News reported.
According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, individuals with untreated severe mental illness are involved in one-fourth of all fatal police encounters, making those with untreated mental illness 16 times more likely to be killed by a police officer.
McKnight added that, in recent years, 911 calls for mental health crises in New Jersey have increased exponentially.
“We need more legislators throughout the state to sign on and pass my bill, S-2943, which would authorize the creation of local civilian review boards to allow residents to review police operations and conduct. These boards would have the authority to investigate incidents of excessive or unnecessary force, abuse of authority, discourtesy, or offensive language by officers,” she continued.
“If civilian review boards were implemented throughout New Jersey, officers like Sean Grayson would likely be investigated by a board for a lesser, non-fatal incident before his actions escalated to a fatality. This will help distinguish upstanding officers who proudly protect our communities from those undeserving of their title.”
She also offered her condolences to the Massey family, as well as all other families who have been impacted by police violence, vowing to fight for greater law enforcement transparency and accountability in New Jersey.