Former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean P. Grayson had a history of aggression toward women before he killed Sonya Massey.

The sheriff’s deputy charged with fatally shooting Sonya Massey in the face has been the subject of several complaints alleging belligerent behavior toward women, a USA TODAY review of public records shows.

Despite the complaints, Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean P. Grayson was never prohibited from working in law enforcement and moved from one police agency to another, the records show, calling into question how he got the job he held when Massey was shot.

The July 6 killing of Massey has sparked national outcry over police brutality, coast-to-coast demonstrations and a federal probe by the Justice Department.

The hiring practices of the sheriff’s department have also been under fire from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who earlier this week formally called for Sangamon Sheriff Jack Campbell to resign, expressing frustration with how the sheriff has responded to Massey’s death. Amid the growing pressure and questions about Grayson’s hiring, Campbell said on Friday he will step down and retire.

  • octopus_inkEnglish
    621·
    3 months ago

    The ex-deputy also faced accusations from his former wife in divorce proceedings that he treated her with “repeated acts of mental cruelty.” A separate citizen complaint against Grayson in May alleged that he unlawfully tried to intimidate a 17-year-old girl while trying to enter a house without having obtained a warrant, yelling at her and threatening to “put her in cuffs” if she didn’t let him inside. The complaint was found not sustained by one of Grayson’s fellow officers.

    Thank goodness there was a good apple there to toss out that complaint!