Residents are urging an independent investigation into the Illinois sheriff’s department that employed the deputy responsible for the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey. This call to action emerged during a tense county board meeting on Tuesday, a month after the incident reignited demands for increased police accountability and the retirement of the local sheriff.

During a meeting of the Sangamon County Board in Springfield, many speakers demanded an investigation into the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. They voiced that Sheriff Jack Campbell’s retirement, which was announced on Friday following the July 6 shooting, was insufficient.

Some attendees also pushed for enhanced oversight of the department, which operates on a $22 million budget, suggesting that funds be redirected to improve training for officers on handling situations involving individuals experiencing mental health crises.

Donna Massey, Sonya’s mother, had called Springfield Police the day before the shooting because she was concerned about her daughter’s mental health state, describing it as a “breakdown.”

Sean P. Grayson, the former deputy involved, has been charged with murder and has pleaded not guilty. He is currently in custody.

Grayson shot and killed Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, in her home after she had called 911 to report a potential intruder that morning. Body camera footage revealed that Grayson drew his weapon and shot Massey in an incident he has claimed was in self-defense, occurring after she picked up a pot of boiling water.

The circumstances surrounding her death have ignited a nationwide protest against police brutality, resulting in major demonstrations and a federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.

At the county board meeting, many attendees criticized board members for not taking a louder stand in support of Massey.

Deputies, not police, were dispatched to the scene as Massey’s home is located in a neighborhood known as “Cabbage Patch,” which falls under Woodside Township, not the city of Springfield.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has scrutinized the hiring practices of the sheriff’s office and formally called for Campbell’s resignation last week.

Campbell, who has been in the sheriff role since 2018, was absent from the meeting but has stated he plans to retire by August 31.

Records indicate that Grayson transferred between several police agencies before joining the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. He had two DUI arrests before becoming a law enforcement officer and was discharged from the U.S. Army under allegations of “serious misconduct.”

During the meeting, resident Bree Roberts highlighted Camden, New Jersey, and Eugene, Oregon, as cities that have effectively reduced police interventions by investing in de-escalation training and funding for mental health crisis teams.

Roberts criticized the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office for allocating a large part of its budget toward “militarized vehicles and surveillance technologies.”

Ashley Bresnahan also expressed that Campbell’s upcoming retirement is not sufficient, stating that a fundamental change in the sheriff’s office culture is necessary.

Bresnahan advocated for an independent investigation into the sheriff’s office and third-party training reforms.

“Why do we continue to apply a Band-aid to the problem rather than addressing the underlying issues?” she questioned.