Sonya Massey | Interrupting the Cycle with Structural Changes

SPRINGFIELD, ILL On July 6, 2024, at approximately 12am, Sonya Massey called  911 for fear of an intruder. The police arrived, and quickly escalated to shooting Sandy in the face as she knelt down in front of her stove.  This was not the first time police killed the innocent individual who actually called 911.  Here is a partial list of past events. 

  1. Aderrien Murry

    • An 11-year-old boy in Mississippi shot by police after calling 911 to report a domestic disturbance involving his mother.

  2. Christian Glass

    • A 22-year-old man shot by police in Colorado after calling 911 for roadside assistance when his car got stuck.

  3. Justine Damond

    • Shot by a Minneapolis police officer after she called 911 to report a possible assault behind her home.

  4. Sonya Massey

    • Shot by a deputy in Springfield, Illinois, after calling 911 to report a possible intruder.

  5. Niani Finlayson

    • Shot by police in Los Angeles County after calling 911 to report a domestic disturbance. She was allegedly sitting on the ground and not posing a threat when she was shot.

  6. Elijah McClain

    • Although initially stopped due to a call about a "suspicious person," Elijah McClain was later subjected to excessive force by police and paramedics during a wellness check in Aurora, Colorado, leading to his death.

  7. Katherine "Kat" Diaz

    • Shot in Jacksonville, Florida, during a welfare check call made by her mother concerned about Diaz's mental health.

  8. Tamir Rice

    • A 12-year-old boy shot by police in Cleveland, Ohio, after a 911 caller reported someone pointing a "probably fake" gun.

  1. Atatiana Jefferson

    • Shot in her home by a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas, after a neighbor called a non-emergency line for a welfare check.

 

There were many such events in the past, Our communities would simply cry become upset but there were no Structural Changes to prevent this from repeating.  

STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO CHANGE THE CYCLE

Here are some structural changes that we can do in 3 simple steps. 

  1. STOP CALLING 911.
  2. Organize Community Response Teams (CRT) on every block and in every apartment complex.
  3. Set up a camera network and quadcopters for visibility.

The community should call the Community Response Team using hashtag #CallCRTFirst. The Community Response Team can be unarmed or armed. If they assess the situation and decide to elevate it, they can call the police (hopefully just to document).

Calling your Community Response Teams (CRT) has many advantages:

  • FASTER RESPONSE TIMES: The Community Response Team is already there.
  • FAMILIARITY: They already know the people, the cameras, and the layout.
  • NO IMMUNITY: They don't have immunity, which discourages weapon use.

This will avoid wrongful shootings in the following categories:

  • WRONG ADDRESS: Police show up at the wrong address and shoot, e.g., Robert Dotson, 52, on April 5, 2023.
  • WRONG APARTMENT: E.g., Senior Airman Roger Fortson, 23.
  • WRONG PERSON: Police arrive and engage the wrong person.
  • SHOOTING THE PERSON WHO CALLED 911: E.g., Sonya Massey.

Statistics identify communities at the highest risk for higher prioritization.

COMPENSATION: It is possible that we do not have this in place yet due to economic difficulties. To compensate the team, start several stores to recycle our dollars to protect our communities.

Funds are available to start the stores to support this initiative. Questions? Want to do this?

 

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HISTORY OF THIS STRATEGY

This strategy is used in the Philippines. 

The policing structure in the Philippines includes multiple layers designed to handle incidents with varying degrees of severity and complexity. This system is rooted in the Community and Service Oriented Policing (CSOP) model, which aims to enhance collaboration between the police force and local communities.

  1. Barangay Tanods (Community Police): At the grassroots level, there are the Barangay Tanods, who are community-based safety officers. These individuals are unarmed and focus on maintaining peace and order within their communities. They play a crucial role in preventing minor crimes and resolving conflicts through mediation. Their primary function is to establish a direct link between the community and the formal police force by being the first responders to local issues.

  2. Municipal and City Police: When incidents exceed the capacity of Barangay Tanods, they refer these cases to the municipal or city police. This level involves officers who are part of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and are equipped to handle more serious crimes. These officers are armed and have received more extensive training compared to Tanods. They investigate crimes, perform patrols, and ensure law enforcement within their jurisdiction.

  3. National Police and Specialized Units: For complex or high-severity incidents, such as those involving organized crime or terrorism, the situation can be escalated to specialized units within the PNP. These units include SWAT teams and other tactical units that are equipped with advanced training and equipment to handle significant threats to public safety. The national police also coordinate with other government agencies and international bodies for larger-scale operations.

The CSOP system was formalized to empower the PNP and integrate community input effectively. It involves the Local Government Unit (LGU), the community, and the police working together to address public safety concerns. This multi-layered approach ensures that policing is both community-oriented and capable of addressing serious crime through specialized intervention when necessary