Like so many other across our nation, I am appalled at the senseless killing of Sonya Massey by police and heartbroken for the family she leaves behind. 

The Department of Justice has rightly commenced an investigation into the circumstances of Sonya’s death. It is clearly not an isolated incident. In 2023, police killings of civilians reached an all-time high. 

Police in the United States are trusted with military-grade weapons and an enormous amount of discretion to use them. Sensible limits should be imposed on both. And potential officers of the law should be held to the highest standard of ethics and judgment. Sonya’s father has called for systemic reforms that would strengthen background checks before a police officer is hired. And the President has urged passage of George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which, among other measures, would mandate the creation of a National Police Misconduct Registry to track termination records, lawsuits against officers, and discipline records at the federal, state and local level.

I join their calls. And I pray for justice and peace for Sonya’s family.