Over the past decade, the Springfield Police Department has faced several disciplinary actions involving serious misconduct. Notably, in 2020, Officer James Foxx was suspended for 13 months without pay for sending a racially charged text message to a fellow officer. In another case, Officer Spengel was suspended for 45 days without pay for multiple violations, including Neglect of Duty and Unbecoming Conduct. The department has also been involved in high-profile incidents leading to legal settlements, such as the $10 million settlement in 2025 for the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey by a sheriff’s deputy. These cases highlight ongoing challenges within the department regarding officer conduct and accountability. ([casetext.com](https://casetext.com/case/the-city-of-springfield-v-police-protective-benevolent-assn?utm_source=openai)