Police Investigating Non-Reported Abuse Allegation in Suffield

SUFFIELD, CT — Police are investigating an allegation that several school administrators and members of Suffield Public Schools senior leadership failed to report an act of suspected child abuse or neglect to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF).

On May 22, the office of Chief of Police Richard Brown was notified by DCF staff of the allegation involving members of the Suffield Public School District, Capt. Christopher McKee said in a news release Wednesday.

"The complaint under DCF investigation alleged that several school administrators and members of senior leadership of the Suffield Public School District, including the Superintendent, had failed to report an act of suspected child abuse or neglect to the Department of Children and Families as required by Connecticut law," McKee wrote.

He continued, "Connecticut General Statute §17a-101 defines which persons and occupations are mandated reporters and requires that mandated reporters are required to report or cause a report to be made when, in the ordinary course of their employment or profession, they have reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a child under the age of 18 has been abused, neglected or is placed in imminent risk of serious harm."

Upon receiving this information, Brown initiated an immediate investigation. Both the Suffield Board of Education and the Suffield Public School District are cooperating fully with police leadership and investigators, according to McKee.

"The safety and security of our children is paramount to both the Suffield Police Department and the Town of Suffield," McKee wrote. "This comprehensive investigation is ongoing and the findings of this process will determine the actions and outcome to be undertaken by this department."

A "no confidence" petition created by parents and town residents circulating on ipetitions.com calls for the immediate termination of Superintendent of Schools Karen Berasi. The first of nine points outlined in the petition states, "Superintendent Berasi is currently under investigation for failing to make a report to DCF. This is another example of the superintendent believing that the rules do not apply to her but only to others. This is unacceptable behavior from the leader of our schools."

As of 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, the petition had collected 402 signatures.

File photo credit: Tim Jensen

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