FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday September 10, 2018
Senator Somers: Potential Racist Intimidation at State Agency Demands Immediate Answers and Greater Accountability from Malloy Administration
Deeply Disturbing Images and Information Increase Questions Surrounding Culture and Management of DDS and Other State Agencies
GROTON — State Sen. Heather Somers of Groton reacted Monday to information and photographs claiming a noose was left hanging in an office at the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) in Torrington and was discovered by an African-American employee.
“The information and photographs I received over the past several days are deeply disturbing and demand immediate and transparent answers from the Malloy administration as to what exactly is being done to investigate this incident, what we know about the incident to date and what we know about the status of any employee suspected of engaging in this behavior and their motivation,” Somers said.
Somers noted the DDS incident comes on the heels of a major abuse scandal involving the agency at the Whiting Forensic Division of Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown — raising concerns about the wider culture and management of the agency.
“This disturbing incident raises very serious concerns that a broken culture that tolerates and encourages abuse and intimidation extends beyond what we uncovered at Whiting Forensic Hospital far deeper into DDS and Connecticut state agencies,” Somers noted.
Somers also pointed to recent incidents involving other state agencies — including the tragic death of a child in the DCF system and evidence of defective care for prison inmates in the DOC system — as evidence of a breakdown of leadership in the administration.
“It is clear greater accountability and transparency are needed from the administration to protect state workers and those in the care of the state,” Somers said.
Somers has been in contact with concerned employees at the Department and pledged to continue to stay engaged until a full accounting of this incident is known and appropriate remedies administered.
“I have already been in contact with concerned employees at DDS and will continue to fight for transparency and accountability across our state agencies,” Somers said.
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