Portland police union leaders speak out against Sonya Massey’s death

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES – JULY 25: Protesters gather at Washington Square Park and march to Times Square to demand justice for the police killing of 36-year-old Sonya Massey in her Illinois home on July 25, 2024 in New York, USA. Protesters marched through the streets of New York chanting slogans such as “Black Lives Matter” and “Justice for Sonya Massey”. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

PORTLAND, Oregon (COIN) — The leaders of two Portland-area police unions have spoken out about the death of Sonya Massey, a black woman who was killed by an Illinois sheriff’s deputy after she called for help.

Portland Police Association President Aaron Schmautz and Multnomah County Deputy Sheriff’s Association President Josh Zwick released a joint statement on the incident Thursday evening.

“The concern, confusion and sadness are shared by all community members as well as the law enforcement officers across our country who are on the job every day,” Schmautz and Zwick said, among others. “Sonya Massey should be alive today, and we stand with her family, loved ones and community as they grapple with this unimaginable loss.”

The fatal shooting occurred on July 6 in Springfield, Illinois, about 200 miles outside of Chicago. Massey, 36, called 911 because she feared there was a burglar in her neighborhood.

Two officers from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene around 1 a.m. when they discovered an SUV with broken windows in her driveway. AP News reported that police knocked on her door for about three minutes before answering, immediately saying, “Don’t hurt me.”

Massey told officers she did not know who the damaged vehicle belonged to. Inside the vehicle, 30-year-old Deputy Sean Grayson advised her to turn off the stove and take out a pot of hot water before they began the report. Body camera footage shows Massey moving the pot and yelling, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

The deputy then reached for his 9mm pistol and threatened to shoot her. In the footage, Massey can be seen apologizing and raising her hands before Grayson shot her three times, once in the head.

He has since been charged with abuse of office, premeditated murder and aggravated assault with a firearm. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

On Wednesday night, the Portland Police Bureau’s North Precinct was vandalized by people believed to be protesters. A spokesperson for the bureau told KOIN 6 that it is policy “not to get into the reasons for the demonstrations,” but images show the suspects writing “Stop killing us now” and “murders” on the building.

Read Schmautz and Zwick’s full statement below.

In Springfield, Illinois, Sonya Massey called for help. She believed she was in danger and trusted the police to keep her safe. The events that followed, leading to her tragic and unexplained death at the hands of those same responders, have shaken the community’s faith in its public servants. There are more questions than answers about this horrific incident. The concern, confusion, and sadness are shared by every community member, as well as the law enforcement officers across our country who perform their duties every day. Sonya Massey should still be alive today, and we stand with her family, loved ones, and community as they grapple with this unimaginable loss.

When trust is broken, it is critical that law enforcement build relationships with community leaders, neighbors, and partners who genuinely want to know and understand each other. As leaders of our organizations and representatives of the law enforcement officers our community interacts with every day, we are committed to transparency, connection, and open dialogue. We also respect that grief and outrage over such a dramatic and horrific incident can take many forms. While speaking out and sharing condolences are important forms of expression, we cannot allow violence and discord to interfere with the need for connection and healing. The Portland Police Association and the Multnomah County Deputy Sheriff’s Association stand with those grieving this heartbreaking loss.