(The Center Square) – In the wake of the highly publicized shooting of a Springfield woman by a police officer, a measure requiring more stringent background checks for police hires has passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly.
Sonya Massey called 911 early on the morning of July 6, 2024, to report a suspected prowler outside her home. Then-Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson and another deputy responded, according to body-camera footage.
Grayson pointed out a pot of boiling water on the stove, and as Massey retrieved it and was handling the pot, Grayson yelled at her to drop the pot, and as she ducked, he fired three shots, striking her once.
Grayson has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held in the Macon County Jail.
Prior to the shooting, Grayson had been discharged from the Army for serious misconduct and had worked for six law enforcement agencies in central Illinois in four years.
State Sen. Doris Turner’s legislation would require law enforcement agencies to conduct a more comprehensive review of a prospective officer’s past employment.
“When it comes to hiring police officers, we want to ensure that we have the most qualified people,” said Turner, D-Springfield.
James Wilburn, Massey’s father, said Grayson should never have been hired by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department.
“Through the good old boy system, this man should have never been given a gun and a badge to kill my child,” Wilburn said at a news conference Thursday in Springfield.
The measure would require background checks in the private sector as well. During floor debate, state Rep. Dennis Tipsword, R-Metamora, who is a police officer, said that could lead to complications.
“We may have a good applicant, we may have a good candidate, but if one private agency or one law enforcement agency doesn’t get back to us, that person doesn’t get in the door,” said Tipsword.
Turner’s bill also would expand the creation of sheriff’s merit boards and sheriff’s merit commissions for counties with a population of at least 75,000.
The measure is now headed to the governor to be signed into law.
