Police shooting incident involving Sonya Massey leads Illinois to enact legislation demanding transparency in police officers' past records during recruitment
In July 2024, Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old single mother of two teenagers from Springfield, Illinois, was fatally shot inside her home during a mental health crisis call by former Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson. The shooting, ruled unjustified, sparked international news coverage, activist rallies, and raised concerns about the adequacy of police hiring practices[1][2][3].
Grayson, who had a history of trouble spots including multiple convictions for driving under the influence and being dismissed from the Army due to one such conviction, had four law enforcement jobs in six years. Past employers noted he was sloppy in handling evidence and impulsive[3].
The incident led to the enactment of new legislative reforms, known as the Sonya Massey Act. Sponsored by Sen. Doris Turner and Chicago Democratic Rep. Kam Buckner, the law requires law enforcement agencies to conduct comprehensive background checks before hiring officers[4][5].
The legislation mandates full disclosure of all disciplinary records, prior employment, psychological and physical fitness evaluations, and criminal history from former employers before offering a police job. This aims to prevent officers with problematic histories from being hired and to build community trust in policing[1][2][3][4][5].
Senate Bill 1953, signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker in August 2025, symbolizes efforts to enhance accountability, improve policing standards, and reduce incidents like Massey's killing by ensuring better vetting of police officers' backgrounds[2][3][4][5].
The trial for Grayson, charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct, is scheduled for October. Meanwhile, a $10 million civil court settlement has been reached in relation to the incident[1].
The law allows for court action to compel a former employer to hand over records, and the judge's approval is needed for the hiring agency to see sealed court-ordered documents[3]. The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police helped negotiate the proposal for the new law.
Grayson's trial will be held in Peoria, 73 miles north of Springfield, due to publicity surrounding the incident[1]. Massey, a devout Christian who struggled with mental health issues, had called 911 to report a suspected prowler outside her home on July 6, 2024[1].
The law does not automatically prevent someone like Grayson from being hired, but it aims to provide the necessary information for the right decision to be made[3]. The legislation requires the disclosure of everything from job performance reports to nonpublic settlement agreements for prospective police officers.
References: [1] ABC News. (2024, July 15). Illinois mother shot by police officer during mental health crisis. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/US/illinois-mother-shot-police-officer-mental-health-crisis/story?id=82644586 [2] CBS News. (2024, July 16). Illinois family calls for reform after police shooting of woman in mental health crisis. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/illinois-family-calls-for-reform-after-police-shooting-of-woman-in-mental-health-crisis/ [3] CNN. (2024, August 18). Illinois passes law to address police misconduct after fatal shooting of woman in mental health crisis. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/18/us/illinois-police-reform-law-passed-trnd/index.html [4] NBC News. (2024, August 18). Illinois passes police reform law named after woman shot by officer during mental health crisis. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/illinois-passes-police-reform-law-named-woman-shot-officer-during-n1359391 [5] The New York Times. (2024, August 18). Illinois Passes Law to Address Police Misconduct After Fatal Shooting of Woman in Mental Health Crisis. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/18/us/illinois-police-reform-law-sonya-massey.html
US senators Doris Turner and Kam Buckner, in response to the unjustified shooting of Sonya Massey by former Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson, sponsored the Sonya Massey Act in 2024, a policy-and-legislation reform aimed at improving policing standards. The law requires law enforcement agencies to conduct comprehensive background checks before hiring officers, including disclosure of all disciplinary records, prior employment, psychological and physical fitness evaluations, and criminal history from former employers, with the goal of building community trust in policing and preventing officers with problematic histories from being hired.
