The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Workplace is underneath investigation by the U. S. Division of Justice for civil rights violations, however the probe could transcend the deadly taking pictures of Sonya Massey.
The U.S. Division of Justice’s civil rights probe will examine the sheriff’s division, but additionally Sangamon County Central Dispatch and the county itself.
The investigation started after Massey, a Black lady, was shot on July 6 after reporting a prowler exterior her residence. Deputy Sean Grayson, who’s white, shot an unarmed Massey in her kitchen. Grayson faces costs of first-degree homicide, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.
Within the weeks after the homicide, Capitol Information Illinois confirmed the Justice Division was “assessing the circumstances” of Massey’s demise. A six-page letter dated Nov. 14 from the DOJ’s civil rights division detailed the scope of the investigation, stating, “the incident raises critical considerations about SCSO’s interactions with Black individuals and other people with behavioral well being disabilities, in addition to SCSO’s insurance policies, practices, procedures, and coaching.”
The letter acknowledged that DOJ has “reviewed reviews regarding SCSO’s employment practices, together with allegations {that a} lack of racial variety at SCSO impacts SCSO’s provision of policing companies in communities of coloration.”
Information obtained from the Illinois Regulation Enforcement Coaching Requirements Board present the final Black deputy Sangamon County employed was Cortez Wade Luttrell, in December 2020. He left in January 2024 to hitch the Springfield Police Division. Sangamon County has a Black inhabitants of almost 13%, in response to census knowledge.
Information confirmed that 13 different people who’re Black had been employed as licensed legislation enforcement personnel throughout the identical interval however work as correctional officers or courtroom safety personnel.
As a part of their investigation, DOJ requested info associated to hiring, together with an outline of the hiring course of for deputies, recruitment, background checks, psychiatric testing, references and choice processes.
Previous to his hiring at Sangamon County, Grayson had two DUI convictions and had labored for six central Illinois police departments in 4 years.
DOJ additionally requested the sheriff’s workplace to supply an inventory of all candidates for a deputy place that included their race and ethnicity, gender, date of utility and rent, and whether or not the candidate had earlier legislation enforcement expertise. For disqualified candidates, the request sought the date and motive for disqualification. The request additionally seeks info on whether or not the candidate had any members of the family at the moment or beforehand employed by the sheriff’s workplace.
On the time of the taking pictures, Grayson was engaged to the daughter of longtime Sangamon County Sheriff’s Workplace worker Scott Butterfield.
The letter requested a far-ranging assortment of paperwork from data of citizen complaints on the sheriff’s workplace to dispatcher coaching. The county has 10 days to debate with the Justice Division get the fabric to them.
If the county doesn’t cooperate, DOJ can droop or terminate federal cash to the county. The DOJ may also file swimsuit to implement anti-discrimination legal guidelines if a decision is just not achieved after the investigation is accomplished.
“We purpose to fulfill the deadlines outlined within the DOJ’s request and stay up for their conclusions and suggestions. This course of is a vital step in constructing community-wide confidence and strengthening our supply of truthful and efficient companies to the residents of Sangamon County,” Sheriff Paula Crouch mentioned in an announcement.
The Justice Division additionally requested site visitors and pedestrian cease knowledge, together with the race of the particular person stopped. It additionally requested documentation of the sheriff’s division and dispatchers’ course of for dealing with citizen complaints alleging discrimination and the outcomes of these complaints.
DOJ additionally requested coaching data and insurance policies associated to make use of of drive, de-escalation and responding to calls involving individuals with disabilities.
Specialists have mentioned that Grayson missed alternatives throughout the name to de-escalate the state of affairs and unreasonably used drive in opposition to Massey, who was experiencing a mental health crisis.
“Whereas the amountof fabric requested is substantial, we perceive and respect the necessity for thorough evaluation, and we will likely be bringing in skilled workers to help in compiling the information to make sure accuracy and completeness,” Crouch mentioned within the assertion.
However the DOJ’s request for info doesn’t finish on the sheriff’s workplace. The letter additionally requests info from Sangamon County and Sangamon County Central Dispatch System.
The letter mentioned the incident and prior 911 calls involving Massey within the days earlier than her demise “point out potential points” with the county, in addition to central dispatch and the sheriff’s workplace.
Within the days earlier than her demise, Massey had been discharged from an in-patient behavioral well being unit. She had additionally been involved with psychological well being disaster groups within the hours earlier than her demise.
DOJ requested dispatch logs from Jan. 1, 2020, to current. Particularly, DOJ wished calls searching for assist for an individual experiencing a psychological well being disaster, insurance policies for figuring out and responding to calls involving somebody with a behavioral well being incapacity and interacting with somebody who has a behavioral well being incapacity.
Additionally, the Justice Division sought any coaching data and supplies dispatchers acquired associated to interacting with those that have a incapacity.
DOJ has requested organizational costs for Sangamon County from Jan. 1, 2020, to current and the names of People with Disabilities Act coordinators for the county, the sheriff’s workplace and central dispatch.
Although the investigation is centered on legislation enforcement, authorized consultants say it may broaden to incorporate any service offered by the county, together with housing, well being companies and different county companies.
Reporter Janelle O’Dea of the Illinois Solutions Challenge offered knowledge assist for this story.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan information service that distributes state authorities protection to a whole lot of reports shops statewide. It’s funded primarily by the Illinois Press Basis and the Robert R. McCormick Basis.
