From the Chicago Justice Project, dedicated to bringing transparency to Chicago's justice system.

Sheldon Thrasher

Case #: 21PB2995
Police badge #: 17871
Download original case files
- 21PB2995_Charges.pdf

Recommendation Termination
Decision Termination
Length of process about 1 year August 06, 2021 to September 15, 2022 Closed

Investigative Agency

Charged with violating 6 rules on 11 counts

Show all counts


Rule 2	3 counts	Any action or conduct which impedes the Department's efforts to achieve its policy and goals or brings discredit upon the Department. Count 1 Guilty On or about June 6, 2018, at or near 4719 South Prairie Avenue in Chicago, Police Officer Sheldon Thrasher discharged his firearm at or in the direction of Maurice Granton which resulted in Granton’s death. Officer Thrasher’s use of force was not necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm from an imminent threat posed to him or another person. Nor was the use of deadly force necessary to prevent an arrest from being defeated because Granton did not pose an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm to Officer Thrasher or anyone else unless he was arrested without delay. Count 2 Guilty On or about June 6, 2018, at or near 4719 South Prairie Avenue in Chicago, Police Officer Sheldon Thrasher failed to activate his body-worn camera (“BWC”) in a timely manner in that he waited until after he had discharged his weapon to do so, even though he had been engaged in law-enforcement activity before he discharged his weapon. Count 3 Not Guilty On or about June 6, 2018, at or near 4719 South Prairie Avenue in Chicago, after shooting Maurice Granton, and as Granton was lying on the ground injured, Police Officer Sheldon Thrasher stated words to the effect of, “You see your homie right there? You see your homie shot? You see your homie? You see your homie shot? Get back. Get back.” Officer Thrasher directed one or more of these statements to one or more civilians who were calling Granton by name and/or who were expressing concern for Granton’s safety and/or were questioning the need to shoot Granton.
Rule 3	3 counts	Any failure to promote the Department's efforts to implement its policy or accomplish its goals. Count 1 Guilty On or about June 6, 2018, at or near 4719 South Prairie Avenue in Chicago, Police Officer Sheldon Thrasher discharged his firearm at or in the direction of Maurice Granton which resulted in Granton’s death. Officer Thrasher’s use of force was not necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm from an imminent threat posed to him or another person. Nor was the use of deadly force necessary to prevent an arrest from being defeated because Granton did not pose an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm to Officer Thrasher or anyone else unless he was arrested without delay. Count 2 Guilty On or about June 6, 2018, at or near 4719 South Prairie Avenue in Chicago, Police Officer Sheldon Thrasher failed to activate his body-worn camera (“BWC”) in a timely manner in that he waited until after he had discharged his weapon to do so, even though he had been engaged in law-enforcement activity before he discharged his weapon. Count 3 Not Guilty On or about June 6, 2018, at or near 4719 South Prairie Avenue in Chicago, after shooting Maurice Granton, and as Granton was lying on the ground injured, Police Officer Sheldon Thrasher stated words to the effect of, “You see your homie right there? You see your homie shot? You see your homie? You see your homie shot? Get back. Get back.” Officer Thrasher directed one or more of these statements to one or more civilians who were calling Granton by name and/or who were expressing concern for Granton’s safety and/or were questioning the need to shoot Granton.
Rule 6	2 counts	Disobedience of an order or directive, whether written or oral. Count 1 Guilty On or about June 6, 2018, at or near 4719 South Prairie Avenue in Chicago, Police Officer Sheldon Thrasher discharged his firearm at or in the direction of Maurice Granton which resulted in Granton’s death. Officer Thrasher’s use of force was not necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm from an imminent threat posed to him or another person. Nor was the use of deadly force necessary to prevent an arrest from being defeated because Granton did not pose an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm to Officer Thrasher or anyone else unless he was arrested without delay. Count 2 Guilty On or about June 6, 2018, at or near 4719 South Prairie Avenue in Chicago, Police Officer Sheldon Thrasher failed to activate his body-worn camera (“BWC”) in a timely manner in that he waited until after he had discharged his weapon to do so, even though he had been engaged in law-enforcement activity before he discharged his weapon.
Rule 38	1 count	Unlawful or unnecessary use or display of a weapon. Count 1 Guilty On or about June 6, 2018, at or near 4719 South Prairie Avenue in Chicago, Police Officer Sheldon Thrasher discharged his firearm at or in the direction of Maurice Granton which resulted in Granton’s death. Officer Thrasher’s use of force was not necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm from an imminent threat posed to him or another person. Nor was the use of deadly force necessary to prevent an arrest from being defeated because Granton did not pose an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm to Officer Thrasher or anyone else unless he was arrested without delay.
Rule 11	1 count	Incompetency of inefficiency in the performance of duty. Count 1 Guilty On or about June 6, 2018, at or near 4719 South Prairie Avenue in Chicago, Police Officer Sheldon Thrasher failed to activate his body-worn camera (“BWC”) in a timely manner in that he waited until after he had discharged his weapon to do so, even though he had been engaged in law-enforcement activity before he discharged his weapon.
Rule 9	1 count	Engaging in any unjustified verbal or physical altercation with any person, while on or off duty. Count 1 Not Guilty On or about June 6, 2018, at or near 4719 South Prairie Avenue in Chicago, after shooting Maurice Granton, and as Granton was lying on the ground injured, Police Officer Sheldon Thrasher stated words to the effect of, “You see your homie right there? You see your homie shot? You see your homie? You see your homie shot? Get back. Get back.” Officer Thrasher directed one or more of these statements to one or more civilians who were calling Granton by name and/or who were expressing concern for Granton’s safety and/or were questioning the need to shoot Granton.

Board Member Votes & Decisions

Majority Decision

5 agreed

Agreed with the final decision of the board

0 disagreed

Disagreed with the final decision of the board

0 did not vote

Did not vote or were not present for voting

Minority Opinions

It is important to understand the cases detailed here are a significant minority of the total complaints filed against officers. A typical year sees about 3–5% of complaints against officers result in a sustained finding of misconduct. A very small percentage of those sustained findings result in discipline that would require the police board to get involved. The data used for this website is taken directly from Police Board documents. The documents were obtained through the Illinois Freedom of Information act. All the documents used as the basis of this website are available for download from the individual case pages. The Chicago Justice Project is an independent transparency organization and is not affiliated in any way with the Chicago Police Board or any other justice agency in Chicago or Cook County.

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