SPRINGFIELD, Illinois — Illinois Governor JB Pritzker on Wednesday called for the resignation of the sheriff whose deputy fatally injured Sonya Massey in her home last month after the black woman called 911 for help.
Pritzker, a Democrat, said Republican Jack Campbell must resign because “the sheriff has failed.”
Sean Grayson, 30, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and government misconduct in connection with the July 6 shooting death of Massey, 36. Campbell, who hired Grayson for the Sangamon County sheriff’s office in May 2023, reiterated Wednesday that he plans to stay in the job.
“He has not explained how he hired this deputy who has been fired from other departments,” Pritzker said of Campbell at an event in Chicago. “He has failed to implement reforms that are clearly needed, training and other reforms, and he has still not spoken to the Massey family.”
There is no evidence that Grayson was fired from a previous job. And Pritzker did not elaborate on what “training and other reforms” Campbell has been required to implement since the killing.
Grayson has to take a closer look at because — before he became a police officer — he was discharged from the Army a decade ago for the first of two drunken driving arrests in a year. His law enforcement career included six jobs in four years, several reviews that indicated he needed more training, and one disciplinary issue.
Grayson was fired on July 17 for violating use-of-force policies by shooting Massey instead of taking non-lethal action when he felt threatened by a pot of hot water she was holding, authorities said.
The sheriff indicated on Wednesday that he would stay on.
“I was overwhelmingly chosen to lead the sheriff’s office through both good and bad times,” Campbell said in a statement. “I am fully prepared to continue leading my office and serving the people of Sangamon County during this difficult time so that we learn from this tragedy and build toward a better future.”
Pritzker, who along with Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton met with Massey’s family two weeks agoaccused Campbell of not speaking to his family members.
“At the very least, listen to them, hear them out and then hopefully take action,” Pritzker said.
Campbell said he has requested four meetings with the family through family-appointed intermediaries, but none have been accepted. He said he would still like to meet.
He also said he is willing to adjust hiring procedures, but because Sangamon County follows state standards, any necessary changes would have to be made statewide.
The sheriff’s office “continues to grieve for Sonya Massey and her family,” Campbell said. “While our grief does not compare to the pain of the family, our office is trying to heal from within — all employees of the sheriff’s office feel betrayed by one of their own.”
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AP reporter Sophia Tareen contributed from Chicago.