Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) -While the Sangamon County Board was voting down a resolution Monday night that would have let voters decide whether to allow recalls for the office of sheriff, the Massey Commission, just blocks away at the BOS Center, approved a resolution recommending new hiring protocols and standards for the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office.

The commission’s recommendations include:

  • Expanding background checks to include FOIA requests for personnel and internal affairs files
  • Reviewing social media accounts, with attention to ties to hate groups
  • Applying hiring standards, procedures, and drug testing to all applicants
  • Setting employment prohibitions and guidance for all applicants
  • Giving the Deputy Merit Commission more responsibility in the hiring process

This marks the commission’s third formal recommendation. Its first, calling for a sheriff recall referendum, failed to pass the county board. The second, creating a mental health board, passed.

In November, the commission sent letters to the Illinois State Police, U.S. Department of Justice and the Illinois Attorney General’s office requesting a full review of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. Following that, the U.S. Department of Justice initiated an investigation into the recruitment, hiring, and training processes.

The commission was formed after the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey by Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson, who was responding to a 911 call for a prowler at Massey’s home in July 2024. Grayson had worked for multiple law enforcement agencies in the area and had two DUI charges on his record when hired by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office.

The Massey Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 10 at Ruby Recreational Center at 101 N. 16th St. in Springfield.