Records obtained indicate that the Logan County Sheriff’s Office and the Auburn Police Department had prior concerns about Sean Grayson’s performance.

The fired deputy charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey in Illinois had previously been reprimanded for inaccuracies in his police reports, failure to follow orders, and a perceived lack of integrity, according to disciplinary files.

Grayson’s personnel file from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, where he worked before joining the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, details these issues. Sangamon County fired Grayson nearly two weeks after he killed Massey, who had called police to report a prowler.

The records show that both the Logan County Sheriff’s Office and the Auburn Police Department, where Grayson worked from July 2021 to May 2022, were aware of his performance issues. It is unclear whether these concerns were shared with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office before Grayson was hired, though the Auburn Police Department appears to have communicated them to Logan County. The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office has not responded to requests for Grayson’s personnel files.

A recorded conversation from Nov. 9, 2022, reveals Logan County superiors telling Grayson a report he wrote would not be approved due to inaccuracies and potential “official misconduct.”

“Others will say you have no integrity and you’re lying to get to that traffic stop,” a superior told Grayson. “And I have zero tolerance for stretching the law.”

Grayson acknowledged that previous cases of his had been dropped due to his reports. He was also involved in a high-speed chase that violated department policy and resulted in him striking a deer after ignoring a supervisor’s order to stop. He misrepresented his actions in the incident, leading to further reprimands.

Despite these issues, Grayson left the Logan County Sheriff’s Office in “good standing” and joined Sangamon County six months later. He is now charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct in Massey’s death, pleading not guilty. His attorney, Dan Fultz, declined to comment.

Grayson’s job performance has been questioned due to his frequent moves among six law enforcement agencies in four years. His records show no complaints or disciplinary action from four of these departments, but senior officers in Logan County repeatedly expressed concerns.

An April 5, 2022, document from the Auburn Police Department described Grayson as a “bragger” who mishandled evidence and displayed excessive aggression. Despite these criticisms, Auburn Police Chief Dave Campbell noted Grayson’s punctuality and eagerness for training.

Grayson, who is white, fatally shot Massey, who was Black, on July 6 in her Springfield home over a pot of water. An autopsy report confirmed Massey died from a gunshot wound to the head. Grayson claimed he felt threatened by the hot water Massey was moving, but body camera footage shows she had her hands up and said “I’m sorry” before being shot.