Sangamon County Board approves $10 million settlement in police shooting death of Sonya Massey

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND)- The Sangamon County Board unanimously agreed during Tuesday night's meeting to pay the family of Sonya Massey a settlement of $10 million.

Officials ensured, however, that there would be no tax increases or cuts to services to cover this payout. The county will finance the settlement from its settlement fund, with any additional funds required being drawn from county reserves.

Sangamon County Administrator, Brian Mcfadden said, "To pay for this particular settlement, we will not be raising taxes, we will not be issuing any additional debt, we will not be cutting services. We can handle this through what is in place in those reserves and allow us to do this on a cash basis and do it rather quickly."

Insurance will not cover any part of the settlement because the county is self-insured and does not have liability insurance.

County Board Chairman, Andy Van Meter stated, "We're self insured. We looked at that a long time ago and we determined to go the self-insured route and the cost of the liability was really astronomical. It was better to accumulate these reserves."

Sangamon County Council can now finalize the details with the Massey family.

Following the board's decision, the NAACP released the following statement:

The NAACP commends the county for its swift action in resolving the civil case involving Sean Grayson, who is accused of killing Sonya Massey. While this resolution marks progress, the organization urges the county board to adopt and implement the critical reforms recommended by the Massey Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice.

NAACP President Austin Randolph is also calling upon State's Attorney John Milhiser to expedite the criminal trial of Grayson to secure a conviction.

"The family and the community deserve full justice-this case cannot end with a civil resolution alone. A conviction and appropriate sentencing are essential for closure and accountability," said Randolph.

Attorney Crump, Attorney Romanucci, and the family of Sonya Massey issued the following statement:

"The settlement reached by civil attorneys for the senseless death of Sonya Massey brings some measure of accountability and closure to those who loved her, but nothing can remove the persistent pain, frustration and grief caused by her senseless death. The use of deadly force during that encounter is as stunning as it is deeply, deeply sad. It is the hope of Sonya's family that her death can bring change, and that the community will continue to say her name so no one ever needlessly loses their life again when all they are asking for is help."
"As we mark Sonya's birthday today, we are grateful for Illinois State Senator Doris Turner (D48th), who represents Sonya's district, for introducing SB1953 and for Illinois State Representative Justin Slaughter (D-27th), Chair of Judiciary-Criminal Committee, for introducing HB3837 last week. Both bills call for more robust background checks and the greater sharing of work history and personal history for applicants to law enforcement roles. It is squarely in the public's best interest that those who are sworn to protect and serve our communities be held to a reasonably high standard before being given a shield and a service weapon. Sonya's family believes that this type of a background check would have raised numerous concerns about the officer who would later take her life, and in creating a more thorough hiring process in Illinois that tragedies like Sonya's can be prevented. "