Illinois Governor JB Pritzker urged Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell to resign following the fatal officer-involved shooting of Sonya Massey. Campbell dismissed the call as “political manoeuvring during a tragic event.”
Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, in a joint statement, aligned with the Massey family in urging Campbell’s resignation to help restore trust between the community and the sheriff’s department.
On July 6, former deputy sheriff Sean Grayson responded to a prowler report at Massey’s residence. Bodycam footage from another deputy captured Massey rebuking Grayson, who then threatened the 36-year-old Black woman. Grayson asked Massey to remove a pan of water from a stove burner. Grayson later reported that he did not know the type of liquid boiling in the pot Massey held.
Grayson wrote in his report that he advised Massey to put the boiling water down and interpreted her response as a threat to kill him. The incident ended with Grayson shooting Massey in the head and failing to render aid. Massey’s family disclosed she had mental health struggles.
Grayson, a 30-year-old deputy, was fired and later indicted on July 17 on three counts of first-degree murder, along with charges of aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct. He pleaded not guilty and was denied pretrial release.
Scrutiny has grown over the sheriff’s office hiring practices after it was revealed Grayson had been discharged from the Army for serious misconduct and had a history of DUIs. Despite these issues, he was employed by six Illinois law enforcement agencies since 2020.
Pritzker and Stratton criticised Campbell for not addressing questions about Grayson’s hiring and proposed department reforms, noting community fear persists regarding contacting the sheriff’s office.
Campbell’s statement expressed the office’s grief for Massey and mentioned deputies feeling betrayed by Grayson. He indicated willingness to adjust hiring practices but stressed the need to identify the problem first. Campbell argued that calls for his resignation were politically motivated and harmful to the community, emphasising his election to lead through challenging times.
Pritzker and Stratton also condemned Campbell for not meeting with Massey’s family, calling his refusal inexcusable. Campbell countered that his four requests to meet with the family had been rejected or unaccepted, but he remained willing to meet.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is calling for #Sangamon County Sheriff to resign, due to the shooting death of Sonya Massey but Sheriff Jack Campbell is refusing to resign. What’s the next step for the sheriff’s removal? pic.twitter.com/76yQeOTmKf
— William Pelarenos (@policeproject1) August 7, 2024
Campbell stated no prior issues with Grayson were reported before hiring him at Sangamon County, though previous employers noted he needed more training. Grayson completed 16 weeks of academy training.
Grayson’s personnel file contained references from individuals known to Campbell. The former deputy’s discharge from the US Army in 2016 for serious misconduct and prior DUI misdemeanour charges were documented. Grayson acknowledged these DUIs when applying to the Auburn Police Department in 2021, where no major issues were found in his records. He later worked at the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, where his personnel file noted a need for stress decision-making classes and mentioned a vehicle pursuit where Grayson struck a deer.
A Logan County chief deputy reported Grayson’s failure to show caution, driving at 110 mph in a 55 mph zone. Grayson inaccurately reported the incident despite orders for accuracy. The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office did not receive a complete disciplinary report from Logan County.
Logan County Sheriff Mark Landers stated no formal or informal requests for Grayson’s personnel file or disciplinary reports were received from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, nor did any staff communicate with them about Grayson before his departure.
Grayson’s attorney has declined to comment.