* Capitol News Illinois…

Police agencies in Illinois will soon be required to do more thorough background checks on prospective officers.

The measure signed by Gov. JB Pritzker Tuesday came in response to the July 2024 shooting death of Sonya Massey in Sangamon County by a sheriff’s deputy. Massey had called police to report a prowler and was in her home when she was shot to death by Deputy Sean Grayson while removing a pot of boiling water from the stove, with permission.

The signing came at the governor’s Capitol office, where he was flanked by members of Massey’s family, including daughter Jeanette “Summer” Massey, son Malachi Hill-Massey and mom Donna Massey, among others.

“I just want to say I miss my mom every day – like every day. And it hurts that she’s not here with me,” Massey’s son, Hill-Massey said at a news conference. “But I am very happy that we could also get a bill put in her name and her name could live on for forever.”

* Sun-Times…

State Sen. Doris Turner, a sponsor of the bill and friend of the Massey family, was overcome with emotions at Tuesday’s bill signing.

“I will tell you unequivocally, in my 25 years of elected office, this is the least political thing I have ever done, but it’s the most important thing I have ever done,” Turner said.

Following the shooting, Turner reached out to Massey’s mother, Donna Massey, to try and console her. Donna Massey told Turner; “Nothing else matters to me. I just want you to get justice for my baby.”

“I immediately made her that promise,” Turner said. “And that promise has guided my every step, my every action, from that day to this one.”

* AP…

The 31-year-old Grayson was 14 months into his career as a Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy when he answered Massey’s call. His arrest two weeks later prompted an examination of his record, which showed several trouble spots.

In his early 20s, he was convicted of driving under the influence twice within a year, the first of which got him kicked out of the Army. He had four law enforcement jobs — mostly part-time — in six years. One past employer noted that he was sloppy in handling evidence and called him a braggart. Others said he was impulsive.

* More from Capitol News Illinois…

Under the new law, a police department or sheriff’s office making a hire would be required to request employment personnel files from the applicant’s previous employers, including other law enforcement agencies. The previous employer would be required to share the information within 14 days.

Law enforcement applicants would be required to sign a document authorizing the release of information, including military service records, police discipline databases, employment and criminal history, driving records, academic credentials, a credit check, and more.

Information provided is to be unredacted, except for data such as financial information and social security numbers. If the former employer denies a request, the prospective employer may ask a court to intervene and could be reimbursed for associated fees and costs.

The law specifically states that if an existing collective bargaining agreement conflicts with the law, the law will not supersede it. But once the law takes effect, no expiring collective bargaining agreement can be extended in a form that contradicts the law.

It also exempts any information if a state’s attorney in the county where the applicant was previously employed provides a written directive stating the previous employer is not legally authorized to provide it.

* More…

* WCIA | Governor Pritzker signs Sonya Massey’s law: The law is the first of its kind in the United States. Both the Illinois Sheriff’s Association and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police helped craft the legislation. “The association firmly believes there should be minimum background standards for individuals seeking to protect and serve our communities.” ILACP Executive Director Kenny Winslow said. “We are one-step closer to ensuring that background checks will be more thorough and only those candidates of the highest moral character will be among the police force.”

* WGN | Sonya Massey Act targets police misconduct with stricter hiring standards:
Grayson had previously worked at six police departments in a four-year time span, including the Logan County Sheriff’s Office and the Girard Police Department, where he had a history of disciplinary issues. He also pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor DUI cases and was discharged from the Army before his career in law enforcement.

* ABC Chicago | Gov. Pritzker signs police reform bill named for Sonya Massey, woman killed by deputy: The measure passed out of the Senate unanimously and out of the House with a vote of 101-to-12. […] For the family and the bill’s sponsors, the hope is this law will bring more accountability to police agencies across the state by making them liable for who they hire. “He should have been fired from the very first one. It was one of those days where I believe would be they were just trying to get rid of him and move him along to the next place, so he’ll be someone else’s problem,” state Sen. Doris Turner said.