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Monday, August 4, 2008
Nutter announces DHS suspensions, says he's "pissed"
The seven workers from the Department of Human Services suspended today by Mayor Nutter include supervisors and high-level administrators. All have been suspended with pay, pending an internal investigation into the case of Danieal Kelly, a 14-year-old with cerebral palsy who starved to death while under the supervision of city social workers.

A harrowing grand jury investigation into Danieal's death was released last week and nine people were charged, including two DHS social  workers. Dana Poindexter and Laura Sommerer were charged with felony counts of child endangerment and misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person. They have already been suspended with intent to dismiss.

Nutter said he was "completely pissed off by what happened here." He added that if anyone treated his own teenage daughter this way: "I would kick their asses myself."

Nutter insisted that reforms were underway at DHS.  "I understand we have a big thick report that paints a very bad picture," he said. "That was in 2006."

Asked why employees with involvement in Danieal's case were still in their jobs two years after her death, Nutter said "they're not in place today."

Here are some details on the seven suspended employees. Their job description information comes from the grand jury report and the city.

Janice Walker -- a 30-year veteran of DHS who was the immediate supervisor for Dana Poindexter. Now serves as an administrator.
Martha Poller -- Walker's supervisor and the administrator who oversaw Poindexter's unit. According to the report, she falsified records in Danieal's case. She currently serves as project manager for fatality reviews.
Ingrid Hawk -- a social work supervisor who supervised Laura Sommerer.
Shawn Davis -- he replaced Hawk as Sommerer's supervisor when Hawk was transfered within the department.
Valerie Mond -- the administrator who supervised Davis, Hawk and Sommerer. Gave Sommerer an "outstanding" performance review three days before Danieal's death.
Wesley Brown -- then the Social Service Program Director. According to the city, his job title is now Director of Intake.
Pamela Mayo --  Children and Youth Division Operations Director
Posted by Catherine Lucey @ 11:51 AM  Permalink | Post a comment
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About Chris Brennan and Catherine Lucey
PhillyClout
Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.

Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002. Since then she has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. For the past two years, she covered the 2007 mayoral election. Now that the battle is over, she has moved down to the City Hall bureau where she will report on the Nutter administration.

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Catherine Lucey
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