Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Thirteen months after a then-Sangamon County deputy killed a Black woman in her Springfield area home, it’s now more difficult to get a job as a police officer in Illinois.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law Tuesday a bill requiring more thorough background checks for job applicants. Advocates say Sean Grayson, who claims self-defense in killing Sonya Massey, probably would not have seen his career last long enough to get to Sangamon County had such a law been in place.

“I feel confident that going forward and over time, our communities and law enforcement will have built a trusting relationship,” said the sponsor, State Sen. Doris Turner (first from right) (D-Springfield), breaking down, “and I will have kept my promise to my childhood friend, Sonya’s mother.”

The bill passed the Senate unanimously and the House with only a dozen No votes.

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