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Justice Department Investigates Sheriff’s Office
The U.S. Justice Department is investigating the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois over concerns about how they treat Black residents and individuals with behavioral health disabilities. This stems from the July shooting death of Sonya Massey, who was killed by a sheriff’s deputy.
The Justice Department has requested records related to the incident and the sheriff’s office’s policies for handling behavioral health crises.
Deputy’s History of Misconduct
The deputy who shot Massey, Sean Grayson, had a history of misconduct allegations. He had worked for multiple law enforcement agencies in Illinois and had been discharged from the Army.
A Logan County Sheriff’s Office recording revealed that Grayson had been warned for lying and misconduct. He also allegedly pressured a police chief to call child protective services without justification.
History of Misconduct Allegations at Sheriff’s Office
Prior to Grayson’s incident, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office had a history of misconduct allegations. Despite local officials claiming Massey’s shooting was an isolated incident, records obtained by CBS News suggest otherwise.
Attorneys for Massey’s family are advocating for an expanded database to track police misconduct, including infractions like DUIs and speeding during chases.