Sangamon County sheriff says he’ll retire by end of month in wake of
Massey shooting
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[August 10, 2024]
By BETH HUNDSDORFER
Capitol News Illinois
bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com
A little over a month after the shooting death of Sonya Massey by a
sheriff’s deputy, Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell on Friday
announced his retirement, effective no later than Aug. 31.
His announcement comes amid intense pressure to resign, including from
Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday.
The Massey shooting raised questions regarding the hiring of Deputy Sean
Grayson, who worked at six departments around central Illinois in four
years.
Grayson shot Massey on July 6 after she called 911 to report a prowler.
Massey was unarmed and in her kitchen when a dispute over a pot of
boiling water resulted in Grayson firing three shots, including a fatal
shot that killed Massey.
“The tragic death of Sonya Massey has been a heartbreaking event for our
community,” Campbell said in a statement released on Friday. “My deepest
condolences go out to her family and friends. Since the incident, I have
been proactive and transparent, working tirelessly to present all of the
facts to the public. I have committed to making changes to our standards
and collaborating with other units of government on ways to prevent
incidents like this in the future.”
Campbell had not met with the Massey family, an omission that Pritzker
called “inexcusable” on Thursday.
“Rather than waiting for others to propose reform of the Sangamon County
Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Campbell should have taken his leadership role
more seriously. When we met with Sonya Massey’s family, we heard their
pleas and made a commitment to support them in working for justice,”
Pritzker said.
Campbell, in his statement, continued to blame Grayson alone for
Massey’s shooting. He alluded to threats against his and his family’s
lives and threats against other sheriff’s deputies.
“The one person truly responsible for this act is in jail, and I believe
justice will be served through the legal process,” Campbell said in the
statement.
Campbell, a Republican, was first elected in 2018.
He hired Grayson in 2023, and has said that he had no knowledge of
Grayson’s previous trouble at the Logan County Sheriff’s Office.
Previous Concerns
Last month the Logan County Sheriff’s Office released a 2 1/2 hour
recording of a disciplinary meeting with Grayson and his superiors.
During that meeting, Grayson was questioned about his accuracy and
integrity in reports, including a report regarding a high-speed pursuit,
and insubordination. Grayson did not terminate the pursuit after being
ordered to stop by his supervisor.
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Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell announced he would retire at
the end of the month. (Illustration by Capitol News Illinois;
Campbell photo provided by Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office)
In his application for the Sangamon County position, Grayson gave a
reference at the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, but, according to his
personnel file, no one talked to his director supervisor or the chief
deputy regarding his job performance. The file shows that Sangamon
County only interviewed one Logan County employee during its background
check process, an investigator whose name was provided by Grayson.
Six months after that disciplinary meeting, Campbell hired Grayson, who
was engaged to the daughter of one of his longtime deputies, Scott
Butterfield.
A little more than a year into his tenure with Sangamon County, Campbell
fired Grayson, citing the criminal charges against him in the Massey
case, and his refusal to cooperate with Illinois State Police who were
investigating the shooting – a violation of department policy.
Grayson appeared in court on Friday afternoon to renew his efforts for
release pending his trial. He cited his need for cancer treatment and
personal safety concerns as reasons for his release. His attorneys
further stated that he was not a threat to the community as he no longer
served as an armed police officer.
The judge disagreed and found Grayson should be held until trial.
Campbell’s retirement announcement came just before the hearing began,
ending a 30-year law enforcement career.
“While it is painful to say goodbye, I do so knowing I have fulfilled my
duties and served to the best of my ability,” Campbell wrote in his
retirement announcement. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to the
citizens who have supported me throughout the years. I am forever
grateful for the opportunity I had, for the people I met and for this
Office that I love.”
He signed the statement simply, “Jack.”
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