Rev. Sharpton calls for Illinois police reform law in wake of Sonya Massey killing

CHICAGO — The Rev. Al Sharpton on Tuesday called for Illinois lawmakers to pass a law in Sonya Massey’s name that would prevent law enforcement officers with serious misconduct infractions from moving to new jurisdictions.

“If you’re bad in one precinct, why would we think all of a sudden you had some kind of Damascus Road, knock-off-the-horse change of heart in another district?” he said at an afternoon news conference at New Mount Pilgrim Church in the city’s Garfield Park neighborhood. “A bad cop is a bad cop.”

Sharpton spoke alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Masseys’ survivors. The central Illinois woman was shot and killed July 6 by Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office deputy Sean Grayson after calling 911 for help about a suspected prowler.

Grayson was vetted and approved for hiring by Sangamon County in May 2023 despite two drunk-driving convictions, the first of which got him ejected from the Army for “serious misconduct,” and having six jobs in four years , including as a sheriff’s deputy in Logan County, where he was reprimanded for ignoring a command to end a high-speed chase and ended up hitting a deer.

“When they arrest people in our community, what is the first thing they do? Check our record,” Sharpton said. “We should have the right to check the record of officers.”

Following Massey’s death, Grayson was fired from the department and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct. He’s pleaded not guilty and is being held in the Sangamon County Jail without bond. If convicted, he faces prison sentences of 45 years to life for murder, six to 30 years for battery, and two to five years for misconduct.

The news conference was called to address the police union grievance filed on behalf of Grayson seeking reinstatement and back pay. The grievance was filed July 18 by the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council, but the same body later said it would not pursue Grayson’s reinstatement .

The sheriff of Sangamon County, Jack Campbell, faced the community on Monday night and offered his apology but again rejected calls for his resignation .

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