House Minority Leader Tony McCombie has filed two bills that would increase protections for Department of Children and Family Services workers and those working to protect the state’s most vulnerable. Now, as Benjamin Reed, the man who murdered DCFS worker Dierdre Silas back in 2022, stands trial today, it is even more important to keep in mind the pieces of legislation that could create better protections for front line workers throughout the state.
Leader Tony McCombie’s two bills were filed in direct response to the murder of two female DCFS workers: Pamela Knight, who was killed in 2017 in Dixon, Illinois, when attempting to take a child into protective custody and Deirdre Silas, who was murdered last year in Sangamon County during a home-visit. Leader McCombie has filed these pieces of legislation, the Knight-Silas Acts, to help prevent any future harm to employees at DCFS:
- HB1460 – Makes harming a DCFS worker or a Department on Aging Adult Protective Services or Ombudsman worker a Class 2 felony, except if the battery causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual, then a violation is a Class 1 felony.
- HB1461 – Makes harming a DCFS worker a Class 2 felony, except if the battery causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to an individual, then a violation is a Class 1 felony.
These bills have been a priority for McCombie, who has been vocal about the necessary changes needed at the troubled state agency under Governor JB Pritzker’s lead, where countless children have died in the state’s care.
“There is no shortage of issues we must address at DCFS, but ensuring the safety of the employees who work day and night to protect our most vulnerable is the top priority—and my legislation will help make that a reality,” said Leader Tony McCombie. “Pam Knight and Deidre Silas were killed in the line of duty, and more must be done so that tragedies like this don’t continue to happen.”
The House Republican caucus also debuted a new podcast this year, “Capitol Crimes,” which chronicles the stories behind legislation introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives. The first episode of Capitol Crimes features Leader McCombie discussing “The Pam Knight Story,” and her battle to pass legislation that would better protect DCFS caseworkers from violence on the job. Tune in to listen to the Pam Knight Story here: https://soundcloud.com/capitol-crimes/pam-knight-story?si=542047be97ed4a95bae5099e13408e25&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing.