SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday called for the resignation of the sheriff whose deputy Sonya Massey fatally injured at her home last month after the black woman called 911 for help.
Pritzker, a Democrat, said Republican Jack Campbell should resign because “the sheriff failed.”
Sean Grayson, 30, faces three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and official misconduct in the July 6 shooting death of Massey, 36. Campbell, who hired Grayson to the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department in May 2023, reiterated his intention Wednesday to remain on the job.
“He didn’t explain how he ended up hiring this deputy sheriff who was fired from other departments,” Pritzker said of Campbell at an event in Chicago. reforms and has still not been able to reunite with the Massey family.”
There is no evidence that Grayson was fired from any previous job. And Pritzker did not elaborate on what “training and other reforms” Campbell should have implemented since the murder.
Grayson has come under scrutiny because — before he became a cop — he was kicked out of the Army a decade ago for the first of two drunk-driving arrests in a year. His police career included six jobs in four years, during which he received some criticism that indicated he needed more training and had a disciplinary problem.
Grayson was fired July 17 for violating use-of-force standards by shooting Massey instead of taking nonlethal action when he felt threatened by a pot of hot water she was holding, authorities said.
The sheriff signaled Wednesday that he would remain in office.
“I was overwhelmingly elected to lead the sheriff’s office through thick and thin,” Campbell said in a statement. “I am fully prepared to continue leading my office and serving the residents of Sangamon County during this difficult time, ensuring we learn from this tragedy and work toward a better future.”
Pritzker, who with Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton met with Massey’s family two weeks agoblamed Campbell for not sitting down with family members.
“At the very least, listen to them, listen to them, and then hopefully act,” Pritzker said.
Campbell said he requested meetings with the family four times through family-appointed intermediaries, but none were accepted. He said he would still like to meet.
He also said he is willing to modify hiring practices, but because Sangamon County follows state standards, the necessary changes must be made statewide.
The sheriff’s office “continues to grieve for Sonya Massey and her family,” Campbell said. “While our pain does not compare to the family’s pain, our office is trying to heal from within – every employee at the sheriff’s office feels betrayed by one of their own.”
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Associated Press writer Sophia Tareen contributed from Chicago.
