[S]ecretary of Human Services Hal Cohen issued a memo to staff of the Agency of Human Services last week addressing workplace threats and notifying employees of new efforts to improve workplace safety.
Cohen’s memo came less than a week after Lara Sobel, a social worker with the Department for Children and Families, was gunned down on the way to her car after work. Police say that the alleged shooter, Jody Herring, harbored a grudge after she lost custody of her 9-year-old child.
Cohen joined Gov. Peter Shumlin and other state officials in denouncing threats of violence against state workers, especially DCF social workers.
In the wake of the shooting, Shumlin ordered a review of security at all state workplaces.
The memo, sent Aug. 12, is posted in full below:
To all AHS Staff:
The last few days have been extremely difficult for all of us. I want to thank everyone across the Agency for their concern, support, generous offers of help, and the many kind messages we have received.
Our mission is to serve the people of Vermont. Sometimes, in pursuit of that mission, we encounter situations that involve families and individuals in very challenging situations. It is not easy work but it is essential. You have dedicated your lives to this work and you do your jobs with remarkable professionalism and compassion, and you should be commended for the difference you make every day in the lives of your fellow Vermonters.
That is why I find it particularly upsetting to learn that, in the wake of Friday’s tragedy, some of you have been the focus of threatening and/or verbally harassing messages and interactions. I want to stress to you that – in no uncertain terms – your safety and well-being are top priorities for this Agency. You deserve to be treated with respect. Violence – or the threat of violence – directed toward you and your colleagues is not and is not part of your job.
I take any such behavior very seriously. It is important to remember that some of those behaviors are not only inappropriate; they are also illegal.
Your Commissioner and I have started to assess, develop, and implement a clear set of procedures and protocols for you to follow should you encounter a situation where you feel threatened, harassed, or at risk. We are also working with the Department of Buildings and General Services to review their security procedures for the buildings in which we work.
As we do that work, we want to know and better understand the realities that you deal with day-to-day so we can be sure that what we develop will properly address what you experience in the course of your workday.
In the meantime, whenever you encounter a situation that causes you to feel unsafe, is potentially violent, or may result in a critical situation, I ask that you do the following:
- If you believe there is an imminent and dangerous situation, call local law enforcement, then call BGS security.
- Report the situation to your supervisor.
- Submit a BGS Security Incident Report.
Tip: You should bookmark this link on your web browser for easy access to it.Your Supervisors will work with management, the designated security person in your department, Dawn O’Toole (Dawn.Otoole@vermont.gov) in the AHS Central Office, and other staff to provide support and determine the correct response to the situation via official Departmental, AHS, and state processes.
Again, thank you for your support this week and for all you do for Vermonters.
Best,
Hal
