Illinois police agencies will soon face stricter requirements for vetting prospective officers under a new law signed Tuesday by Gov. JB Pritzker, prompted by the 2024 shooting death of Sonya Massey in Sangamon County.
Massey, 36, was fatally shot in her home by Deputy Sean Grayson after she called police to report a prowler. Body camera footage showed Grayson threatening to shoot her before firing as she held a pot of boiling water with permission from deputies to move it. Grayson, who was later fired, faces first-degree murder charges and is scheduled for trial in October.
Standing in the governor’s Capitol office alongside Massey’s family, including her children and mother, Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1953 into law. Sponsored by Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, the measure requires law enforcement agencies to conduct extensive pre-hire background checks, including obtaining personnel files from all prior employers, reviewing disciplinary records, and verifying military, academic, criminal, and driving histories.
Grayson’s record revealed employment at six police departments in four years, prior DUI convictions, reprimands, and allegations of misconduct—including continuing a high-speed pursuit against orders and inappropriate conduct during a strip search complaint. It is unclear whether Sangamon County reviewed his full history before hiring him.
Under the new law, former employers must respond to background requests within 14 days, providing unredacted records except for sensitive personal and financial data. Applicants must authorize release of their information, and employers can seek court intervention if records are withheld. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.
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