Union won't go forward with former deputy's grievance in Sonya Massey shooting
A labor organization won't pursue a fired Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy's grievance, an attorney said Tuesday.
The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council filed the grievance on behalf of former deputy Sean P. Grayson, who is charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey on July 6.
The grievance filed against the sheriff's department on July 18, the day after Grayson was arrested, sought his reinstatement, reimbursement of all lost wages and restoration of all lost benefits.
Grayson was fired on July 17 by Sheriff Jack Campbell.
"We have arrived at that final stage of the process where a determination can be made regarding whether or not to proceed with Sean Grayson’s grievance," a statement from the labor council read. "The Union has determined that it will NOT be proceeding any further."
Tamara Cummings, an attorney for the labor council, said Monday it had "an obligation to preserve the due process rights and other rights (of Grayson) within the collective bargaining agreement."
Cummings would not comment Tuesday about why the proceeding was being halted or who made the decision.
The statement added that the same internal processes "apply to all members who file grievances, including Sean Grayson."
The union represents about 10,000 members statewide.
Grayson, 30, is in custody. In addition to the murder charges, he was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.
Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman was shot in her home in the 2800 block of Hoover Avenue in an unincorporated part of Woodside Township after reporting a possible intruder.
The chaotic and sometimes gruesome video, released to the public on July 22, has caused international outrage leading to marches, rallies and protests across the country.
The grievance caused heat for another state organization that's similar in name.
The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge said in a statement issued Monday that it was a strictly fraternal organization with "a completely separate organization with different leadership, a different organizational structure and a different mission."
The statement, from its president, Chris Southwood, pointed out that the FOP Labor Council is allowed to use the name through a marketing agreement with the National Fraternal Order of Police, one the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge "has had many concerns (with)," Southwood said.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Union drops grievance filed by Sean Grayson in Sonya Massey shooting
