Former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, charged with murder in the shooting death of Sonya Massey, left the Logan County Sheriff’s Office amid allegations of misconduct and lying on reports. Records obtained by the Invisible Institute, Illinois Public Media, and the Investigative Reporting Workshop show that Grayson ignored policies during a high-speed chase, received formal complaints about his behavior, and had been told he could be fired. Audio recordings from an interview with Logan County’s chief deputy suggest previous concerns about Grayson’s performance and integrity as an officer. Grayson’s troubled career, during which he worked at six police departments in four years, has come under scrutiny following Massey’s death, for which he has pleaded not guilty. His defense attorney declined to comment on his past misconduct allegations. Despite mixed reviews from his former employer, Grayson was hired by Logan County as a deputy, where he was involved in various policy violations and a high-speed chase. The interview with officials from Logan County revealed concerns about Grayson’s professionalism, honesty, and his handling of the chase. University of Chicago law professor Craig Futterman noted that Grayson’s stop of a woman during the chase was a “classic pretext stop” without legal basis. Miller emphasized how Grayson’s inaccuracies in reports could jeopardize cases and raised concerns about his honesty. Grayson later resigned and joined the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, where he worked until Massey’s death. The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office and the Auburn Police Department declined to comment on Grayson’s past conduct. Grayson’s case highlights the importance of integrity and professionalism in law enforcement, and the need for thorough vetting of officers to ensure public trust and safety.
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