Sheriff Jack Campbell talks about the department’s next steps
Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell talks about the department following the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey by a deputy and what’s next for him
Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon will serve as interim sheriff, the county announced Monday.
In the meantime, a committee will review applications and participate in the interview and nomination process for the candidate to succeed Sheriff Jack Campbell, who is retiring no later than August 31 following the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey by a deputy on July 6.
Under Illinois law, Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter will nominate someone to fill the position within 60 days of Campbell’s vacancy, who must be confirmed by the county board. That person can serve for the remainder of the sheriff’s term.
The next sheriff election will be on November 3, 2026.
Former deputy Sean P. Grayson shot Massey, a 36-year-old black woman and mother of two, in the face inside her home. Massey had called 911 after she thought she heard someone outside her house.
Grayson has been charged with murder and is in custody. His next court date is August 26.
The new committee will be chaired by Pat Kelley, a retired Seventh District Court judge and former Sangamon County prosecutor, and will include two county board members: Joel Tjelmeland Jr. of District 14 and chairman of the prison committee, and Linda Douglas-Williams of District 20, the ranking Democrat on the prison committee.
Also on the committee are Raymond Poe, retired Illinois state legislator and former Illinois Agriculture Director; Mary Beth Rodgers, first assistant Sangamon County prosecutor and member of the Springfield Park Board; Chico Belle, retired deputy sheriff; and Catie Sheehan, executive director of marketing and communications for the SIU System and former vice chair of the county board.
I am pleased that County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter has accepted my suggestion to establish a special committee to help him select a successor to retiring Sheriff Jack Campbell. For two previous positions, Prosecutor and County Clerk, Chairman Van Meter had not established such a committee. The Board was not informed of the qualifications of the successors, which were announced to them shortly before our meeting where the ratification vote was held. So this is definitely a step in the right direction.
Sam Cahnman, a member of the 18th District County Committee, said he would have liked to have seen members of social groups and a member of Massey’s family on the committee.
Allmon said he did not seek or request the temporary assignment, but said, “I fully understand the importance of continuity in the Sheriff’s Office during this transition period. I am prepared to ensure that the Sheriff’s Office operates smoothly and efficiently, and I know that the existing team at the Sheriff’s Office shares that same dedication.”
Allmon began working in the medical examiner’s office in 2003 and served as deputy to Medical Examiner Cinda Edwards for ten years.
Allmon took over Edwards’ term after she and her husband, former Springfield Mayor Frank Edwards, and businessman John Evans were killed in a plane crash on January 28, 2019.
Allmon won a four-year term unopposed in 2020 and is running for office again in November.
The new sheriff must be a Republican and have lived in the county for at least one year.
The candidate must possess “a certificate attesting to successful completion of the minimum standards basic police officer training course prescribed by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board or a substantially similar training program of another state or federal government.”
All individuals meeting the above criteria may email their resume, cover letter, and any other supporting materials they wish to include (such as letters of recommendation) to [email protected] or drop them off at the Sangamon County Board office temporarily located at the Sangamon South Building, 300 S 9th St Floor #2, Springfield IL, 62701 (formerly the State Journal-Register Building).
The application deadline is September 3rd.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; [email protected]; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
