SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker called on Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell to resign weeks after one of his deputy sheriffs shot and killed Sonya Massey in her home.
In an unrelated press conference Wednesday, Pritzker said he and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton had called on Campbell to resign. He said Campbell had failed in his job by hiring Sean Grayson.
"I called for the sheriff's resignation because the sheriff has failed," Pritzker said. "He has failed to explain how he ended up hiring this deputy sheriff who has been fired from other departments. He failed to put forward reforms that clearly need to be made, training and other reforms."
Last week, the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office released Grayson's 165-page personnel file. The file revealed disciplinary problems, drunken driving convictions, and warnings from previous employers about Grayson's need for more training.
Grayson shot Massey, who was unarmed, at her Springfield, Illinois, home on July 6. Sangamon County records showed that on July 5, Massey and her mother placed numerous calls to 911. Massey's mother told 911 dispatchers her daughter was having a "mental breakdown" but was not dangerous.
Pritzker said Campbell has not met with the Massey family, a decision Pritzker called "outrageous."
"And, still, has failed to meet with the Massey family. That seems to me, and I'm not saying that it is a fireable offense to not meet with the family, but that just seems outrageous to me. At a minimum, listen to them, hear them, and then, hopefully, take action."
At a community gathering on July 30, Campbell asked for forgiveness from the Massey family.
“I stand here today before you with arms wide open and I ask for your forgiveness,” Campbell said. “I ask Ms. Massey and her family for forgiveness. I offer up no excuses. What I do is offer our attempt to do better, to be better.”
Massey's family has called for Campbell to resign, saying Grayson should saying Grayson should never have been given a badge. Many at the meeting echoed that sentiment, but Campbell said he would not resign.
“I will not abandon the sheriff’s office at this most critical moment,” Campbell said. “That would solve nothing.”
In an interview with the Associated Press published on Aug. 1, Campbell said he would keep trying to rebuild trust in the community, but said there is only one person responsible for Grayson's actions
“We will spend the rest of my career, certainly, trying to mend these fences and build bridges to the community to establish trust again,” Campbell said in his downtown Springfield office. “When they call us for help, they expect us to help. Sean Grayson did not help Sonya Massey. And he alone is responsible for his actions.”
Campbell, 60, is serving his second term as sheriff. He was elected in 2018 and ran unopposed in 2022.
Grayson, 30, is being held without bond on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct. He has pleaded not guilty.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.