Officials approved on Tuesday $10 million settlement For the family Sonia MessiShe was shot dead in the kitchen by Sangamon County Sheriff's attorney in July after Massey called for a possible prowler outside her home.

This is the largest ever in the county.

exist Messi's killing In Illinois, community members are angry. this Sheriff Massey resigned when he was killed, and Sheriff Paula Crouch took over the position in September.

“I will do my best to keep my employees accountable and make sure they follow not only our policies and procedures but also the laws set out,” Crouch said.

After Massey's killing, a CBS News investigation found dozens of civil rights complaints from the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office in Illinois date back to 20 years.

Investigation reveals years of civil rights complaints

Over the past six months, CBS News has gained surveillance, body and dash cam videos, crime scene photos, law enforcement documents and court records, related to more than 50 civil rights complaints filed by families in Sangamon County over the past 20 years. Complaints alleged false arrests, excessive force and death.

During the investigation, CBS News interviewed more than a dozen people accusing police officers of misconduct in the county. The allegations involved multiple representatives and correction officers, not just the officials mentioned in this story.

When Billie Greer saw Massey's video, her reaction was that she thought it might have happened to her. In 2022, Greer knocked on the door with a Sangamon County sheriff's deputy who shot Massey.

When she refused to accept court paperwork from her relatives, she said the long-time deputy followed her to the home of an old neighbor, where she was delivering food and arresting her.

"'I thought,'Oh, he's easy to shoot me,'" Greer said. "I'm scared."

Greer was arrested for no reason, the same deputy was twice by Tamara Skube, a former girlfriend, who was arrested for no reason. The gun exploded.

Skube said she had Taser hit her for the first time. She filed a federal lawsuit over the incident.

She said the judge determined the use of illegal use of force in his case, but said the sheriff's office did not take any action to assume the responsibility of the deputy. Representatives involved in the incident did not respond to multiple requests for comment from CBS News. The county settled the lawsuit with Skube without liability.

Greer and dozens of others also sued Sangamon County. In each case, the sheriff’s office and the participants denied any misconduct, even under the county settlement.

"It has no effect on what these officers are doing. I don't care if someone breaks into my house. I'll never call the police to protect me," Skube said.

Sheriff's Department's Accountability

Crouch said she believes that only action can reassure the community. As for past accountability, including officials involved in the cases of Greer and Skube, she said she said she could only talk about her time in leadership.

"I can't explain to you what happened before I came here," she said. "I haven't received any complaints about that person since I've been a sheriff."

She added that she does not think the department has a policing problem.

"Did you meet bad employees? Maybe there are those people in every institution."

Sean Grayson, the agent who shot Messi, was charged with murder and did not plead guilty. He is waiting for trial in prison.