Illinois quick hits: Campbell to retire; conflict of interest found in state agency

Campbell to retire

An Illinois sheriff who hired the deputy charged in the death of Sonya Massey announced Friday that he will retire, five weeks after the 36-year-old Black woman was fatally shot in her home. Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell, who won the office in 2018, said politics stood in the way of his effectiveness as sheriff and suggested he and his family had received death threats. The 60-year-old Campbell said he would vacate his office no later than Aug. 31.

Conflict of interest found

The Illinois Office of Executive Inspector General recently conducted an investigation of allegations of conflicts of interest held by state employees that violate agency policy. The investigation found an Illinois Department of Human Services employee was also employed by IDHS grantees in violation of agency policy. The OEIG revealed that the employee, through his consulting business, was doing work for two entities that also received IDHS grants. These grants were issued from the same IDHS program where...