Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – “Dismantling police misconduct” was the theme of a town hall at Lincoln Library Monday. Citizen Chelsey Farley was badly injured after the motorcycle she was riding crashed into an SUV driven by an allegedly drunk just-retired police sergeant, Michael Egan.

“While at the scene of the accident, Egan was never detained, but he was given gum and cups of water as well as six hours to sober up before he was taken for a blood alcohol content draw,” said Farley. “He was then taken home by SPD, while I lay at (HSHS) St. John’s Hospital, dying, alone, without my family.

A town hall organizer, Tiara Standage, was optimistic afterward. “I think that this will open people up to have more conversations like this and come to the table more so that we can start coming up with solutions in our community.”

Police and community relations have been a flashpoint since the July 2024 police killing of Sonya Massey. Standage said an officer choked her at a protest outside the police station a year ago – and the same officer was caught on video beating a suspect a few weeks ago.

The Faith Coalition for the Common Good put on the event.