Sheriff Jack Campbell to retire

Embattled Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell announced Aug. 9 that he will retire by the end of the month amid calls for his resignation by critics of his hiring of the deputy charged with murder in the July 6 shooting death of Sonya Massey.

In the five-paragraph statement from Campbell, issued at about 3:15 p.m. Aug. 9, Campbell, 60, wrote that "the one person truly responsible for this act is in jail, and I believe justice will be served through the legal process."

Campbell was referring to former Sangamon County sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson, 30, of Riverton, who been charged with first-degree murder and has pleaded not guilty. Grayson is being held in the Menard County Jail and has been denied pretrial release.

Campbell, who has said his department conducted a thorough vetting process before hiring Grayson in May 2023 but would strive to do better in the future, wrote in his Aug. 9 statement that stresses affecting the community, his family and his deputies prompted his decision to resign and retire before his second four-year term is up in 2026.
Sangamon County officials weren't available for clarification, but it appears that the sheriff's office's chief deputy, Anthony Mayfield, would automatically take charge of the office after Campbell leaves his $165,373-a-year job and before the County Board names an interim sheriff who would serve until the 2026 election.

If Mayfield doesn't want the job, the county coroner, Jim Allmon, would automatically be put in charge of the sheriff's office until the County Board names a replacement for Campbell, a Republican.

Sangamon County Board chairperson Andy Van Meter, a Springfield Republican, said in a statement, "I respect the sheriff's decision. The Jack Campbell I know has always done what he thinks is best for the community."

Those calling for Campbell's resignation included Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, as well as several Democratic members of the Republican-controlled County Board, the Sangamon County Democratic Party, Black Lives Matter Springfield, about a dozen clergy members and Springfield City Council members Shawn Gregory of Ward 2, Roy Williams Jr. of Ward 3, Jennifer Notariano of Ward 6, Lakeisha Purchase of Ward 5 and Erin Conley of Ward 8.

Campbell worked for the sheriff's office for 24 years, retired in 2016 and was first elected sheriff in 2018. He ran for sheriff in 2014 but lost the Republican primary to Wes Barr, who won in the general election later that year. After his first retirement, Campbell served as director of the state’s medical marijuana pilot program.

Here is the full text of Campbell's statement:

"I was first elected sheriff in 2018. I embraced that role, to lead SCSO, but I always saw myself as a cop, not a politician. And for over thirty years, my career has been dedicated to improving and protecting our community. As sheriff, I have committed my life to advancing our capabilities and effectiveness, implementing new policies and practices to ensure we serve the community with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. All this was done with the idea of creating a safer Sangamon County.

"The tragic death of Sonya Massey has been a heartbreaking event for our community.  My deepest condolences go out to her family and friends. Since the incident, I have been proactive and transparent, working tirelessly to present all of the facts to the public. I have committed to making changes to our standards and collaborating with other units of government on ways to prevent incidents like this in the future. The one person truly responsible for this act is in jail, and I believe justice will be served through the legal process.

"Despite these efforts, some in our community want me to pay the price for that person’s actions, even threatening that I pay that price with my life, my family's lives, or the lives of my deputies. We will only persevere together as a community if we turn down the temperature and resolve to do better. We must honor the life of Sonya Massey by ensuring that no one else falls victim to such tragic and senseless action. That has been my sincere mission since that fateful day. But it has become clear that the current political climate has made it nearly impossible for me to continue effectively in my role. 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.

"As elected leaders, we must always put the overall good of the community above ourselves; and I will not risk the community that I swore to protect. For this reason, I am announcing my retirement as sheriff of Sangamon County, effective no later than Aug. 31.

"While it is painful to say goodbye, I do so knowing I have fulfilled my duties and served to the best of my ability. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the citizens who have supported me throughout the years. I am forever grateful for the opportunity I had, for the people I met and for this office that I love."