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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The U.S. Justice Department has initiated a probe into the circumstances surrounding the July shooting death of Sonya Massey, an Illinois resident who was killed in her home by a sheriff’s deputy. This investigation seeks to examine the treatment of Black residents and individuals with behavioral disabilities by local law enforcement.
In a letter sent to the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, the Justice Department outlined a comprehensive list of record requests covering various aspects of the case.
Sangamon County Sheriff Paula Crouch affirmed on Friday that her office and relevant county agencies are engaged in dialogues with the Justice Department and have committed to full cooperation during the review process.
Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, was fatally shot on July 6 when sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a potential prowler at her residence in Springfield, Illinois. The incident escalated into a confrontation that resulted in Massey being shot three times.
The deputy involved, Sean Grayson, who is White, was subsequently terminated from his position. He faces murder and other charges, and he has entered a plea of not guilty.
Among its inquiries, the Justice Department is particularly interested in whether the sheriff’s office has established protocols for dealing with individuals experiencing “behavioral health crises.” In its correspondence, the Department expressed significant concerns regarding the interactions between authorities and both Black individuals and those with behavioral health challenges.
Andy Van Meter, chairman of the Sangamon County Board, emphasized that the Justice Department’s investigation represents a critical opportunity to rebuild public trust in the sheriff’s office following this tragic incident.
At the time of Massey’s death, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office was under the leadership of Jack Campbell, who retired in August and was succeeded by Sheriff Crouch.
Deputy Sean Grayson’s history of misconduct
Records reveal that Sean Grayson had previously worked with six different law enforcement agencies in Illinois since 2020. Furthermore, he was discharged from military service in February 2016 after serving for around 19 months and was employed by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in May 2023.
In a conversation with CBS News in early August, Campbell remarked that Grayson “had all the training he needed. He just didn’t use it.”
An audio recording from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, where Grayson was employed from May 2022 to April 2023, captured a supervising officer admonishing him for a lack of integrity, including instances of dishonesty in reports and accusations of “official misconduct.”
Girard Police Chief Wayman Meredith recounted an episode in 2023 where Grayson’s aggressive behavior prompted him to act unprofessionally, pressuring him to contact child protective services regarding a woman outside of Grayson’s mother’s home. He characterized Grayson’s actions as “bullying.”
These recordings and Meredith’s observations reveal a pattern of Grayson’s quick temper and a willingness to misuse his authority as a law enforcement officer.
Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office history of accusations
A review of court documents from 2007 indicates that Massey’s case marked the only criminal action in recent years taken against a Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office deputy for on-duty conduct. Local officials have described the shooting as an isolated incident.
However, an extensive investigation by CBS News uncovered thousands of documents, including law enforcement and medical reports, legal documents, as well as photographic and video evidence. These findings suggest a deeper history of misconduct allegations against the sheriff’s office, raising questions about the narrative of Massey’s death being merely an unfortunate anomaly caused by a “rogue individual.” Local communities are increasingly vocal, believing that Massey’s tragic death exemplifies a broader, systematic issue of unchecked law enforcement abuse over the years.
Legal representatives for Massey’s family have urged for reforms to the existing SAFE-T Act, advocating for an enhancement of the database that tracks officer misconduct, proposing to include violations such as DUIs and excessive speeding during police pursuits.
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