UPDATE: Ben Crump responds to Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell’s retirement

7:10 P.M. UPDATE:

Famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Sonya Massey’s family, has issued a statement on Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell’s resignation.

“The retirement of Sheriff Jack Campbell marks a turning point in the ongoing pursuit of justice for Sonya Massey,” Crump said. “Although the pain of her loss is still fresh, Sonya’s family is willing to work with the outgoing sheriff for the remainder of his tenure to help heal the community and achieve full justice for Sonya. The Massey family also hopes to work with Sangamon County’s next sheriff to examine how this tragedy happened and to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again in this community.”

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5:15 P.M. UPDATE:

A spokesperson for the governor said he hopes Campbell’s retirement helps heal the relationship the community has with the Sheriff’s Office.

“The Governor hopes a fresh start with new leadership will usher in a new era of reform and rebuild the trust lost between the Sangamon County community and the Sheriff’s Office,” Alex Gough, the press secretary for Governor J.B. Pritzker, said in a statement to WCIA.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Sangamon County Sheriff has announced his retirement.

In a statement Friday, Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell announced he will retire on August 31.

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“It has become clear that the current political climate has made it nearly impossible for me to continue effectively in my role,” Campbell wrote in the statement. “Some individuals would rather see our community divided and in turmoil, than allow me to continue serving as Sheriff. The health of me and my family, the Sheriff’s Office, and our community has to be my priority.”

Campbell has faced criticism for how he handled a former Sheriff’s deputy shooting an unarmed Black woman in her Springfield home last month.

Former Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson killed Sonya Massey after shooting her in the head in the early hours of July 6. Body camera footage shows Grayson drew his weapon when Massey was moving a pot of water off her stove.

Grayson was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, along with aggravated battery and official misconduct but pleaded not guilty in court. The deputy was fired by Campbell minutes after being charged.

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Many leaders including several Sangamon County board members and Governor J.B. Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton were calling on Campbell to resign. The family of Sonya Massey has publicly called for his resignation since her funeral.

Campbell defended his leadership repeatedly amid the calls of his resignation. In a Wednesday statement, the sheriff said he was “prepared to continue leading my office and serving the residents of Sangamon County”.

In a statement to WCIA, Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) said the resignation was the right decision.

“I’m still adamant about conducting an independent investigation into the hiring practices of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office,” Turner said. “It doesn’t do any good to remove the sheriff unless we look into the hiring practices that led to Sonya Massey’s murder.”

Campbell was first elected Sheriff in 2018. He then ran unopposed in 2022.

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