SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — One year after stepping into the role as sheriff, Paula Crouch said she’s proud of the progress her department has made, but added she’s just getting started.
Crouch was appointed sheriff in 2024 following mounting pressure for Sheriff Jack Campbell to retire. The change in leadership came during a turbulent time for the department. Former Deputy Sean Grayson faces serious criminal charges related to the shooting death of Sonya Massey in July 2024.
“I walked into just really an unknown,” Crouch told WAND News.
Despite the uncertainty, Crouch, who spent decades as a Springfield police officer and previously served as a 911 dispatcher, felt called to stabilize and restore the department she once considered home.
“I wanted to be able to help and try to improve and assure the employees, deputies, correctional staff that they were still in a good place, that they were doing to be in a good place," said Crouch.
With decades of law enforcement experience, Crouch said her longevity helped her steady the ship at a low point in the department’s history.
“I’ve seen the waves of public opinion or perspective of law enforcement,” she said. “We’ve identified areas that have been necessary for us to improve. Then I've also identified a lot of areas where we were already doing things right.”
The United States Justice Department and the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office (SCSO), the Sangamon County Central Dispatch System (SCCDS), and Sangamon County came to an agreement in early 2025. The investigation was sparked by the murder of Sonya Massey by Sean Grayson.
The investigation found there was not a discrimination issue. However, the county still agreed to make changes.
Sheriff Crouch also took a hard look at her department. She found that while deputies were meeting the state’s required mandates, she recognized the limitations of web-based trainings. To improve those, she prioritized in-person training opportunities to build collaboration and real-time feedback among officers.
“When you’re behind a screen, you just want to get it over with,” she explained. “In person, you ask questions and learn from each other.”
Crouch said the office is also committed to rebuilding that bridge to the public.
“We’re trying to show you we’re out in the community, trying to do good things,” she said. “And we want to get good people in here to serve.”
Like companies and businesses across the country, law enforcement is no stranger to the struggles of recruitment and retention. Crouch also inherited a department dealing with significant staff turnover. She said any senior deputies retired early.
“We did lose a lot of good deputies,” she admitted. “Younger ones started looking elsewhere. Law enforcement jobs are competitive, and we have to compete with other agencies on salary and contracts.”
Her response? Reassurance—and action. Crouch said she is actively marketing the sheriff’s office's work as a unique and meaningful career path.
As she closes out her first year, she said her vision for the future includes securing new grants, expanding training programs, and continuing to refine how the sheriff’s office communicates and operates.
“I think we are on the right track,” she said. “We’re researching programs to bring better tools to our deputies and correctional officers."
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