Four McLean County law enforcement leaders fielded questions from the public during a meeting Wednesday night at Bloomington Public Library that drew about 30 members of the public.
The July killing of Sonya Massey in Springfield hung over the gathering and drove questions for police that included Illinois State University Police Chief Aaron Woodruff, McLean County Sheriff Matt Lane, Normal Police Chief Steve Petrilli, and Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington.
Massey’s killing highlights a number of issues surrounding police misconduct, including the ability of officers to minimize scrutiny by jumping from one employer to another. Massey’s alleged killer, now former Sangamon County deputy Sean Grayson, had worked in six different law enforcement posts in four years — he was fired after the shooting and faces first-degree murder charges in Massey's death.
Furthermore, Grayson had been discharged by the Army for misconduct and convicted of two DUIs before his stint in law enforcement — which the the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department confirmed it knew of before his hiring.
In light of these details, hiring practices were a common subject at Wednesday’s meeting of the Bloomington's Police Safety and Community Relations Board [PSCRB].
Emphasis was placed on background checks that probe a potential officer’s past, including speaking with friends or neighbors a candidate may not offer as references. Petrilli said his department combs through a candidate’s history of applications, not just employment.
“If they’re not selected for another department, there’s generally a reason why,” Petrilli said.
“With that, it allows us through the background process, to do a deeper dive on that candidate and maybe find out why did an agency pass on them? — making sure we’re checking all of the boxes.”
Simington agreed checking application histories can be valuable to identify discrepancies in an individual’s behavior and trustworthiness. He added that hiring officers with existing experience can be attractive for departments because they already have some training, but he reinforced that backgrounds must still be investigated as with anyone else.
Both Simington and Petrilli said all their officers participate in de-escalation training. Simington said he’s received positive feedback on the content, adding that teaching officers to control pacing and attempting to understand others can dramatically improve the outcomes of encounters with police.
“We have to control the situation in the most appropriate way that is constitutional,” Simington said.
“If we do that and rely on the training, time and distance does a lot to save officers' lives and the lives of those we serve — if we just slow down sometimes and engage.”
In addition to de-escalation, the police leaders also said it’s important to consider the mental health of officers in the context of a demanding and dangerous occupation. Petrilli said for much of his career any admission of weakness would be stigmatized in law enforcement, but the culture has improved and more resources are becoming available.
Commenters at the meeting pointed out the contrast between this and the lack of mental health assistance some others receive, with Massey as a stark example. That was raised by Bloomington-Normal NAACP President Linda Foster.
Foster expressed gratitude for the police leader’s efforts to hire and train officers to a high standard, but echoed concerns of others in the room, saying officers tend not to live in the places they respond to most, which removes a vested interest for them to improve their communities.
Some attendees also had specific complaints about Bloomington police. Charlene Bradley said her son is a frequent target of police harassment due to past incarceration, including traffic stops and visits to his home.
“When will he ever be free in Bloomington-Normal or McLean County? To move around like a free man?” Bradley asked of Simington, who Bradley said she’s tried to contact about the issue for months.
After the meeting, Simington asked to see Bradley and her son to resolve the matter.
Foster represented a summary of the public’s views at the meeting, acknowledging progress while pressing for further improvement. She urged others to trust that the police chiefs present were working to help their community. The crowd sounded in widespread agreement when another commenter added “and verify.”
