Lieutenant weighs in on deputy training for mental health crises after Sonya Massey shooting
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — After Sonya Massey’s death, former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson took a course on mental health training.
Grayson has been charged with first-degree murder after being accused of shooting Massey in the head over a conflict that started with a pot of boiling water while Grayson was in Massey’s home. Grayson pleaded not guilty in court last week.
WCIA obtained records that show Grayson took a mental health awareness refresher and a course on responding to trauma and sexual assault the day after the shooting. That training on July 7 was not required by the county.
It is unclear if Grayson completed the training, as well as if he signed up for the training before or after the shooting.
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Those same training records show Grayson took a mental health refresher course back in 2022.
Massey’s family said she struggled with mental health issues. During the encounter with police, deputies asked Massey if she had taken her medication.
In Illinois, law enforcement officers have a number of training requirements, including crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to prevent the use of force.
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One law enforcement agency in Central Illinois said that training can be a big help for officers.
“That is very helpful training that again, assist officers in kind of those identification of, hey, there is something going on with potential mental health issues here,” Lt. Rachael Ahart of the University of Illinois Police Department said. “Also working to de-escalate and then move that call towards some sort of positive resolution.”
In 2021, Illinois passed the Community Emergency Services and Support Act, also known as CESSA. The law is meant to enhance emergency responses for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The state requires full implementation of the law by July 2025.
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