The fatal shooting of Sonya Massey by a Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office deputy has captured attention nationwide. After repeatedly refusing to step down as sheriff, Sheriff Campbell now intends to retire no later than August 31, 2024. Sonya Massey called 911 on July 6, 2024, because she thought there was a prowler in her home. Massey, 36, was shot by Sean Grayson, a Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy, in her kitchen, as she was removing a boiling pot of water from the stove. As reported by the New York Times, “The day before, Ms. Massey’s mother, Donna Massey, had called 911 to alert the authorities that her daughter had been having a mental breakdown and was in a vulnerable state. “I don’t want you guys to hurt her, please,” she told a dispatcher on the morning of July 5.” Sheriff Jack Campbell issued a statement on Friday indicating he would retire as Sheriff of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department because of the political climate that has made it difficult to effectively do his job. According to her obituary at Ruby Funeral Home, “She was a member of Second Timothy Baptist Church. She was a very devoted mother. She loved to do hair and spend time with her family. Sonya retired from J&J Gaming in Springfield, IL.”
Campbell issued this statement on Friday:
I was first elected Sheriff in 2018. I embraced that role, to lead SCSO, but I always saw myself as a cop, not a politician. And for over thirty years, my career has been dedicated to improving and protecting our community. As Sheriff, I have committed my life to advancing our capabilities and effectiveness, implementing new policies and practices to ensure we serve the community with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. All this was done with the idea of creating a safer Sangamon County.
The tragic death of Sonya Massey has been a heartbreaking event for our community. My deepest condolences go out to her family and friends. Since the incident, I have been proactive and transparent, working tirelessly to present all of the facts to the public. I have committed to making changes to our standards and collaborating with other units of government on ways to prevent incidents like this in the future. The one person truly responsible for this act is in jail, and I believe justice will be served through the legal process.
Despite these efforts, some in our community want me to pay the price for that person’s actions, even threatening that I pay that price with my life, my family’s lives, or the lives of my Deputies. We will only persevere together as a community if we turn down the temperature and resolve to do better. We must honor the life of Sonya Massey by ensuring that no one else falls victim to such tragic and senseless action. That has been my sincere mission since that fateful day. But it has become clear that the current political climate has made it nearly impossible for me to continue effectively in my role. Some individuals would rather see our community divided and in turmoil, than allow me to continue serving as Sheriff. The health of me and my family, the Sheriff’s Office, and our community has to be my priority.
As elected leaders, we must always put the overall good of the community above ourselves; and I will not risk the community that I swore to protect. For this reason, I am announcing my retirement as Sheriff of Sangamon County, effective no later than August 31st.
While it is painful to say goodbye, I do so knowing I have fulfilled my duties and served to the best of my ability. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the citizens who have supported me throughout the years. I am forever grateful for the opportunity I had, for the people I met and for this Office that I love.
Jack
