While the Flossmoor Village Board had nothing on its agenda Monday, July 18, related to the death of Madeline Miller — who was killed July 10 by police responding to a report of a domestic disturbance at 1437 Joyce Drive — local residents, an activist and a family member all spoke about the incident during the public comments portion of the meeting.
The village, anticipating a response at the first board meeting convened since the fatal shooting, issued a note from Mayor Michelle Nelson that day, reiterating the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force’s ongoing investigation of the incident and rules about public comment at the meeting. Nelson recounted much of the same to start the meeting.
“Our community experienced a tragedy on Sunday, July 10, and my thoughts and condolences are with everyone involved,” Nelson said. “Members of the Flossmoor Police are dedicated to the community and put their lives on the line every day to serve and protect. Our officers go beyond crimefighting, working to improve the quality of life in our village. Through various programs, we have built trusted relationships between our community members and members of our police department.”
Nelson noted comments were welcomed at the meeting in accordance with board policy, but residents should not expect further information from the board during the meeting than what has already been released.
“While this may not be what you want to hear today, we are unable to comment on or discuss further details because of the ongoing investigation,” Nelson said. “However, we are here to listen to your concerns.”
People who packed the boardroom for the evening were ready to offer them. Most were critical of the police response. In a video of the incident, someone with a walker opens the door to the residence for two officers and another person inside the home yells, “she’s trying to kill me.”
According to police: “Miller emerged from around a corner – armed with a large kitchen knife – and quickly ran at the officers with the knife pointed in their direction. The officers retreated back into the driveway, commanding Miller to drop the knife, but she ignored the directions and continued to advance toward the officers at a quick pace.”
Officers fired a total of three shots, and Miller collapsed in the driveway. She was taken to Advocate South Suburban Hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased, police said.
Camiella Williams, of Flossmoor, said someone should have de-escalated the situation. She suggested things would have ended differently had Miller been a white woman.
“The residents: We deserve answers,” Williams said. “The victim deserved a chance.”
Williams said she felt any trust with the police department had been broken.
“How can we have faith in this system?” Williams asked, calling on Flossmoor to launch its own investigation into what happened instead of leaving it to ISP. “I will never call the police as a Black woman. Why? Because I don’t want to die.”
Iown Fields, of California, said she came out to Flossmoor the same day she heard Miller was killed.
“That was my baby sister,” Fields told the board. “I changed my sister’s diapers, taught her how to walk. … I just want you guys to know she was a human being and my mama’s baby.”
La’Shawn Littrice, of Flossmoor, said she came to the meeting to stand with families who have been “gunned down by police officers.” She said police in the community “get away with a lot” and many Black residents “have had interactions with police that are not beautiful at all.” She called for an administrative investigation, intense crisis intervention training and more.
“My interaction with the police is one of disgust,” Littrice said, noting racial slurs have been used in the past when she has been pulled over. “I’m not going to sugarcoat anything. I’m pissed off. I’m very upset, because I believe things that happen in this community have a tendency to be hushed and shushed under the rug. We have to fight to get some sort of notification about it.”
Jenny Curtis, of Flossmoor, questioned the village’s “on paper” community and leadership values versus reality. Homewood’s Leslie Bolser, who said her family attends church and school in Flossmoor, also called for more ongoing training.
Mark Clements appeared on behalf of the Chicago Torture Justice Center, which he told the board is “a center that addresses the type of behavior that you and your staff do not want addressed.”
“It requires not an additional investigation,” Clements said. “Let’s cut out the bullshit.”
At that point, Village Attorney Kathleen Field Orr insisted that the meeting would “maintain decorum” during public comment. Clements moved on and implored the board to make sure the police are representing the true interests of the citizens of Flossmoor. He decried a “political football game investigation,” and asked for the issue to be placed on the agenda and addressed by the board.
“Assassinating a 64-year-old woman is not right when you have Tasers,” he said, noting mental illness is real and condemning what took place at the residence. “It has to stop.”
Flossmoor resident Rachel Harden-Maddox said she came to let the board know she is a licensed professional counselor and a certified mental health first aid trainer. She left materials with the village, saying she came not to judge but to ask the board to take this seriously.
“I want to be solution-focused,” Harden-Maddox said. “I want to offer my services to the community. I want to offer my services to the police department in any way that I can. … This can’t continue to happen.”
Gigi Gummerson, who said she has lived in the community for years and has only seen “exemplary” work from the police and fire departments, noted other occupants of the residence were apparently in need of help when officers arrived.
“I want to applaud the police for saving the two women that were saved in the home,” Gummerson said.
Eight individuals spoke on the issue at the meeting, with a 30-minute cap on public comment. Some members of the public also briefly put the meeting’s proceedings on hold with chants following public comment. As they left the boardroom, they repeatedly chanted, “If we don’t get it, shut it down,” and “What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now.”