Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton have publicly called for Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell's resignation, citing concerns over his handling of the tragic shooting death of Sonya Massey. The spotlight has been on Sheriff Campbell after it was revealed that he had hired former Deputy Sean P. Grayson in May 2023, despite Grayson's two prior DUI convictions. Grayson now faces three counts of first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Massey in her own home on July 6.

Both Governor Pritzker and Lt. Governor Stratton expressed frustration over Sheriff Campbell's failure to address how he came to hire Deputy Grayson, who had resigned from previous departments. Speaking at a press conference in Chicago, Governor Pritzker stated, "He has failed to explain how he ended up hiring this deputy sheriff who has (resigned) from other departments. He has failed to put forward reforms that clearly need to be made."

Governor Pritzker called for Campbell's resignation in order to rebuild trust between the community and the Sangamon County Sheriff's Department. He described the delay in Sheriff Campbell meeting with the Massey family, a month after the murder, as "outrageous." However, Sheriff Campbell claimed that he had made multiple attempts to meet with the family but was rejected each time. Despite this, he expressed his willingness to have a meeting with them.

In a statement, Sheriff Campbell addressed the hiring practices of his office, stating that they are open to modifying them in order to prevent similar incidents. He also emphasized the need to identify any deficiencies in statewide standards and advocate for necessary changes. Sheriff Campbell reiterated his commitment to leading the Sheriff's Office and serving the residents of Sangamon County during this difficult period.

While Sheriff Campbell believes that calls for his resignation are politically motivated, he expressed a desire for unity and healing in the community. He emphasized that the individual responsible for the tragic event is now in jail and will never work in law enforcement again. Sheriff Campbell believes that calls for his resignation only serve as political maneuvering, ultimately hurting the citizens of Sangamon County.

As the controversy surrounding the hiring of Deputy Grayson and the tragic shooting of Sonya Massey continues to unfold, the calls for Sheriff Campbell's resignation are likely to intensify. It remains to be seen how the Sangamon County Sheriff's Department will address the concerns raised by the governor and the community, and whether Sheriff Campbell will choose to step down in order to restore trust and allow the healing process to begin.