In a statement issued today, APA denounced the July 7 police shooting of Sonya Massey by former sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson in Springfield, Illinois, calling it “a disturbing and horrifying tragedy that should never have happened.”
APA said that when visiting the home of anyone reported to have mental illness or substance use disorders, law enforcement should be prepared to respond with care and empathy, not violence and harm.
“Law enforcement officers should be trained to recognize mental health and substance use concerns, so that they can safely deescalate situations, prevent uses of physical force wherever possible, and perform equitably, safely, and successfully under stress. When police are called, those who have asked for help should not have to worry about becoming victims of violence.”
The statement cited an April 2024 study from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Gun Violence Solutions and Vanderbilt University that found that 67% of all shootings by police involving someone having a behavioral health episode were fatal. By comparison, the study found all shootings by police nationwide had a 55% fatality rate.
“Furthermore, the injustice of Ms. Massey’s killing lays bare the ways in which racial inequities can play out in our communities. More specifically, the Black community should not have to fear interactions with organizations that are charged with keeping us all safe, nor should anyone else,” APA wrote—adding that the timing of Sonya Massey’s killing during Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was a reminder that APA’s work to educate people about the mental health needs of communities of color is far from over.
“APA urges law enforcement organizations to ensure that they prepare their workforce with both training in dealing with mental health issues and anti-bias training. We urge those who are feeling overwhelmed by her death to reach out for help.”
For related information, see “APA Position Statement on Police Interactions With Persons With Mental Illness” and the APA blog post “The Impact of Trauma – Even from a Distance.”
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