Sean Grayson’s History of Misconduct

Former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson made national headlines after he shot and killed Sonya Massey in her home in July 2024 after she called police for help. Through our investigations, we uncovered a patten of misconduct throughout Grayson’s employment at six different police departments in Central Illinois that highlights the need for greater transparency across departments to curtail the issue of ‘wandering officers.’ Invisible Institute reporters Sam Stecklow and Farrah Anderson were the first to report on Grayson’s lengthy misconduct record. This series of investigations was reported and published in partnership with IPM Newsroom and Illinois Times and republished in The Intercept.

Deputy who killed Sonya Massey in Springfield was discharged from Army for serious misconduct
By Farrah Anderson and Sam Stecklow

Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy now charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, was previously discharged from the U.S. Army for serious misconduct, military records show.

Grayson, who is white, was indicted by a grand jury in the July 6 death of Massey, who is Black. Ben Crump, the family’s attorney, said the U.S. Department of Justice has also opened an investigation into the incident, but the agency said in a statement that it is “assessing the circumstances” and following the criminal case.

Documents obtained from the Kincaid Police Department, where Grayson worked previously, note that Grayson was discharged from the Army in 2016 from the Fort Riley Army installation in Kansas for “Misconduct (Serious Offense).” Army officials confirmed Grayson was a wheeled vehicle mechanic from May 2014 to February 2016, but declined to provide further details about his discharge. 

Deputy who killed Sonya Massey joined Sangamon County Sheriff after past employers questioned his integrity and conduct

Sean Grayson, the former sheriff’s deputy facing murder charges for killing Sonya Massey in Sangamon County, Illinois, left a previous agency after complaints were filed against him for claims of inappropriate conduct with a female detainee and retaliation against her boyfriend after she filed a complaint.

Invisible Institute, Illinois Public Media and the Investigative Reporting Workshop obtained new records from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, where Grayson worked for 11 months prior to Sangamon County, that show department officials concluded Grayson ignored internal policies during a high-speed chase, fielded at least two formal complaints about his behavior and told him directly that they had considered firing him.

These records also include audio recordings from a November 2022 interview between Grayson and Logan County’s chief deputy which suggest the department — as well as other police departments that had employed him — were previously aware of issues with his performance and integrity as an officer.

By Farrah Anderson and Sam Stecklow

Sangamon County Sheriff defends hiring of Sean Grayson. Experts say he was negligent and missed red flags

The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office hired now former deputy Sean Grayson despite his history of policing at five other police departments in 3 years, serious misconduct in the military and integrity issues at former jobs. 

Experts say this combination of issues should have been a glaring warning about Grayson as a candidate. 

“In this particular circumstance, there were enough red flags or things that you go, wow, there’s a problem here,” said Chris Burbank, a former longtime chief of the Salt Lake City Police Department. 

In an interview conducted August 1, Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell defended his agency’s vetting of Grayson. Campbell, 60, has said he won’t resign amid public criticism in the wake of the shooting death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman, at the hand of Grayson, who is white.

By Farrah Anderson, Sam Stecklow and Dean Olsen