Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has reacted to Sangamon Sheriff Jack Campbell‘s refusal to resign following the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey.
RELATED: UPDATE: Sheriff Of Illinois Deputy Who Shot Sonya Massey Breaks Silence & Addresses Calls To Step Down (WATCH)
Illinois Governor Pritzker Reacts To Sheriff Jack Campbell’s Actions Amid The Fatal Shooting
According to USA Today, the governor condemned Sheriff Campbell’s actions in a press conference reportedly held in Chicago on Tuesday, August 6.
“How did the sheriff end up hiring this person [Sean Grayson]? [He] must have known their background, must have. I mean, no one hires somebody without checking out the hirees’ background,” he said in footage captured by CBS News Chicago. “I have a lot of questions and I’m so far disappointed with the answers that I’m hearing from the sheriff.”
The Governor Calls For The Sheriff To Step Down
In a report published by USA Today on Wednesday, August 7, the governor reportedly amped up his stance on the sheriff and what he believes Campbell should do moving forward.
“He has failed to explain how he ended up hiring this deputy sheriff who has been fired from other departments,” the governor explained during another Chicago press conference, per AP News. “He failed to put forward reforms that clearly need to be made… and still has failed to meet with the Massey family.”
The governor called the sheriff’s alleged actions “outrageous.”
“At a minimum, listen to them,” he said. Hear them and then, hopefully, take action.”
The governor explained that he and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton are formally calling for Campbell’s resignation.
USA Today reports that “in a statement,” Governor Pritzker added that he’s doing so that the “Springfield and Sangamon County community can begin to rebuild and restore trust between the citizens and the sheriff’s department.”
Sheriff Jack Campbell Reportedly Reacts To The Governor’s Stance
According to USA Today, Sheriff Campbell has reacted to the governor’s request with a newly released statement. In a screenshot of the text, captured in footage by America’s Talking Network, Campbell explained that his office is grieving for Massey and her family. Additionally, he explained that he and his officers are “trying to heal from within.”
“All employees of the Sheriff’s Office feel betrayed by one of their own,” he wrote.
The sheriff even alleged that he attempted to meet with the Massey family on “four separate occasions.” However, his requests have been “rejected.”
Furthermore, Campbell noted that his office is “willing to modify” its “hiring practices in order to prevent an incident like this from happening again.”
“We are working diligently to gather all the facts in order to make intelligent decisions and avoid making changes that are unlikely to lead to meaningful results,” Campbell added. “I agree with the Governor’s comments from yesterday, there are still questions.”
Despite this, Campbell asserted that he has “worked tirelessly to make all the facts available” to the public. Furthermore, USA Today adds that Campbell reiterated that he is “fully prepared to continue leading” his office.
The sheriff reportedly called the governor’s call for his resignation “nothing more than political maneuvering during a tragic event.”
