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A DCFS Child Protective Investigator in the Sterling Office was sent out at the end of the day on Friday, September 29 to check on the welfare of a child. When the investigator arrived, the father, Andrew Sucher, viciously attacked her, knocking her to the ground repeatedly assaulting the investigator about the head.
As a result of the attack, the DCFS investigator sustained very serious brain injuries. She was airlifted to a hospital in Rockford where she has undergone two surgeries. She is currently in a coma.
Out of concern for the family, we are not releasing the employee’s name at this time. Kathy Lane, the president of AFSCME Local 448, knows her very well and was with the family at the hospital throughout the night after the attack. An AFSCME Personal Support Program (PSP) counselor has also been there to provide assistance. Kathy is urgently requesting prayers for this DCFS employee and fellow AFSCME member who is now so gravely injured as a result of her dedication to protecting an endangered child.
“This brutal attack is a horrific reminder of the dangers that DCFS employees confront every day on the job,” said AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch. “There must be a thorough review of agency policies, as well as a commitment to assure staffing levels that can protect at-risk children and the employees we count on to safeguard them.”
The assailant has been arrested and is being held on $200,000 bond.
* Background…
Andrew J. Sucher, 29, was out of jail on $15,000 bond, facing aggravated battery of a child, which carries 2 to 5 years in prison, and misdemeanor battery, domestic battery and interfering with the reporting of a domestic battery in a Whiteside County case when he was arrested Friday in Dixon. […]
Sucher was charged July 31 and pleaded not guilty Aug. 14 in the Whiteside County case. He has a pretrial hearing Oct. 25. A public defender has been assigned.
He also has an active emergency order of protection against him in Whiteside County, also filed July 31.
He was convicted of misdemeanor battery in 2011 in Carroll County and was sentenced to a year of court supervision.
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
State Representatives Tom Demmer (R-Dixon), Tony McCombie (R-Savanna), and Brian Stewart (R-Freeport) urged prayers and community awareness following a brutal attack on a DCFS Child Protective Investigator at a child welfare check on Friday, September 29th in Carroll County.
The three legislators offered the following statement today:
“This tragic attack highlights the dangers faced by our child welfare officers every day and the profound need to continue to educate communities on eliminating violence, especially domestic violence. Along with our fellow legislators, we offer our prayers to the family of the DCFS Investigator, as well as to her co-workers and fellow employees who are saving lives in Illinois’ child welfare system every day. This is terribly frightening and traumatizing for all of our hardworking Child Protective Investigators, but this incident shows how important their work is in protecting children from violence and harm.”
…Adding… Press release…
The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) released its annual Domestic Violence Homicide Report for 2017 today. ICADV’s report states that 61 people died in Illinois because of domestic violence during the period of the report. 55 were adults and six (6) were under the age of 18. These deaths were identified as part of 44 separate incidents, indicating many perpetrators killed more than one victim at the time, highlighting it is important to understand that domestic violence doesn’t occur to just one victim.
“The numbers have risen,” says Vickie Smith, Executive Director of ICADV. “To us this means we have much more to do in educating our citizens about what domestic violence is and how we all play a part in working to eliminate it from our state.”
Another issue reported in the last four annual reports is the number of perpetrators that commit suicide after the murders. The latest report indicates twelve perpetrators committed suicide after killing their victim(s). “This is important when developing prevention programs. We need to pay attention to suicide ideation as well as threats of homicide when assisting victims with safety planning”, said Smith.
The full report is here.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 9:44 am
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Too horrible for words. Hoping for the best for this brave public sector employee. Too often we hear about the worst, and forget that many of those who work for taxpayers have a tough, even dangerous, job to do on our behalf. The judge set the bail too low in the first case. And the second judge set the bail too low for this violent danger to society in the latest case.
Comment by phocion Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 9:51 am
I don’t know policy or the case, but why was the child still in the same house as a man that was awaiting trial for aggravated battery of a child? At the 3,000 foot level it seems like a glaring mistake…
Comment by Perrid Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 9:52 am
Right here. This why state workers deserve respect.
Not all workers are in dangerous positions
But I am so tired of being maligned by trolls in comments.
Those who serve our state deserve respect and support.
I work with three armed guards steps away at my office.
I hate that it took a state worker getting assaulted
To point out that attitudes towards state workers have consequences
( not saying that that was s factor here)
But saying that attitudes towards us really do have effects and consequences.
No wonder we can’t get people to take jobs with the state.
We are down 30% since Rauner took over.
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 10:04 am
I doubt if we’ll be hearing today from the usual suspects on lazy public employees and their fat pensions.
But they’ll be back tomorrow.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 10:07 am
I am with honeybear as I see the decimation of one state agency to the detriment of people it serves.
Comment by FLEA Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 10:49 am
Many years ago while making a home visit for what was then the Department of Public Aid, I was assaulted, and was nearly raped. Prayers for the worker in the hospital.
Comment by Happily Retired Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 11:02 am
With the order of protection in place, it sounds like he should not have been in the house.
DCFS investigators have a high risk job. Most cases are negligence, but many have drugs, alcohol, and violence mixed in. Emotions run high when kids are involved.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 11:04 am
Honeybear, I am going to state unequivocally that no one on this website not to mention anyone in the state wishes ill-will or damage to a state worker such as just happened here. With his history this man had no business being out of jail and living in the same home as a child. This event had nothing to do with the decimation of a state agency.
Prayers for the DCFS investigator and her family.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 11:09 am
I agree with Honeybear and wordslinger.
Comment by honeybadger Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 11:10 am
Agree with the condolences and sympathies, but getting so tired of every tragedy being turned into political talking points. A bad person who shouldn’t have been where he was committed an assault against someone doing there job. Turning that into a talking point about staffing levels is just exploitative.
Comment by Rasselas Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 11:34 am
Perhaps the caseworkers should go out in pairs? Or with law enforcement in certain cases? This might reduce risk to the caseworkers. I think the sending of more than one responder should be mandatory in cases where household members have a history of violence, which, I’m assuming, would be known before the state makes a visit. I believe DFS has access to law enforcement records.
Also, like Perrid, I’m wondering why this individual still had a child residing with him if such was the case.
Comment by Cassandra Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 11:46 am
A reminder of the difficult and challenging work that our front line staff do to protect children, youth and families.
Speaking to the DV press release, let’s remember that at the same time as these deaths occurred, domestic violence providers were not paid for an entire year for the work that they did, and many organizations lost staff. Context matters.
Comment by pawn Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 11:47 am
**Perhaps the caseworkers should go out in pairs? Or with law enforcement in certain cases? **
Great idea… are you willing to pay more taxes to fund this additional cost?
Comment by JoeMaddon Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 12:00 pm
Really Responsa? No one on this site or anyone in the state wishes us ill will? Sure nobody is wishing us to be assaulted but ill will is quite another thing. That happens all the time on this site. Ill will is actively cultivated towards state workers by IPI and the ILGOP. It is a causative factor in the collapse of our workforce which I believe could easily contribute to this.
(Although I readily admit we do not know what exactly happened. But let me explain)
Each government function takes a lot of people and coordination.
1) county court person needed to alert DCFS about the dangerous person.
2) somebody at DCFS may haves needed to update that status
3) did the investigator know or get trained to be alerted? Could be trainers didn’t train.
4) was investigative manager controlling caseloads. Preventing overload mistakes
5) was the investigator new?
Now I don’t know DCFS procedures but right there there are more than enough people involved that I can imagine that if just one person was not there, it could have contributed to this happening.
Folks seem to understand that if you don’t have enough police or firefighters that bad stuff can happen.
When you don’t have enough state workers, county workers, city workers
Because daily government work is disparaged
Our agencies are cut year after year
Those in need are criminalized
And public service is looked upon as lesser work by
I would venture the majority of republicans
Why all the public/private dichotomy if not to weaken
The public sector
Who wants to join the public sector now?
Daily posters on this site contribute to that
Public sector flight.
Those who have weathered these
Seemingly endless 2 1/2 years
Deserve a lot more
Respect
Encouragement
And
Funding
The n they are getting now
With all due respect Responsa,
I think there is a direct connection
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 12:49 pm
Honeybear @12:49 VERY well stated.
Comment by former southerner Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 1:03 pm
Honey Bear wears a heart on her sleeve and speaks the truth. Thank You
Comment by DeseDemDose Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 1:08 pm
Absolutely, Honeybear, thanks for giving a voice to others who are going into harms way today.
Comment by Happily Retired Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 1:11 pm
I’ve read and re-read this report and I don’t see anything about the man living there. He was in the vicinity, perhaps waiting for the caseworker to show up.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 1:12 pm
One more thing. I absolutely support efforts to hold those in the public sector to a high degree of accountability. I’m all for that. That’s why it’s so essential for public servants to know and follow law/statute/policy/regulation and best practices. It may seem “burdensome” to some but folks let me tell you. It can be a life saver. That’s why the loss of veteran workers is so so debilitating. But I didn’t want people to think I was trying to shirk accountability. It could very well be that someone made a critical mistake.
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 1:38 pm
DCFS is not the only state agency where the life of a state worker is threatened.
Comment by Mama Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 3:00 pm
= Honeybear - Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 12:49 pm: =
Honeybear, you hit the nail on the head. Thank you.
Comment by Mama Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 3:01 pm
It was probably just a matter of time before this person killed a child, the case worker has likely saved a child’s life.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 3:24 pm
For those who question why this guy was at the house, think about it a little. You think that just maybe, this guy wasn’t supposed to be at the house and freaked out on the DCFS employee who found him where he wasn’t supposed to be there.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 4:24 pm
DCFS could send them out in pairs, but then 50% of other cases would be neglected. Why they BAN staff from carrying pepper spray etc. is just plain crazy.
There should be a law that makes an investigator a deputy while investigating. Assault a peace officer carries higher consequences.
Comment by Union ManDCFS Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 4:24 pm
My prayers and thoughts are with my DCP collegue and her family.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 6:31 pm
This entire situation has scared and shocked my DCP colleagues. We do our best every day to serve, respect and protect children. Like my injured colleague, I would have never thought something like this would have happened.
My thoughts and prayers go out to my Sterling colleagues at this difficult time.
Comment by Proud CPI Monday, Oct 2, 17 @ 11:36 pm
My prayers go out to the worker and all officers who jobs are to protect and serve our most vulnerable as well as the community.
Comment by ANON Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 10:35 am