Sangamon Sun

State Sen. Sally Turner (R-Lincon) supports a bill that would allow Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) workers to carry pepper spray while on the job.

The bill was introduced on Feb. 10 in the Senate by Sen. Steve McClure (R-Jacksonville).

Turner and Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Moline) are co-sponsors of the bill.

"I'm proud to be a chief co-sponsor of Bill 4165 along with my friend and co-worker Steve McClure," Turner said.

The bill was brought to light after a couple of caseworkers in Illinois were killed while performing home visits for DCFS.

Pamela Knight died months after being severely beaten by Andrew Sucher in 2017. She was sent to his home to place a 2-year-old in protective custody.

DCFS caseworker Deidre Silas, 36, was stabbed to death on Jan. 4 after a home visit in Thayer.

"I just want to say today we're here to not only mourn the deaths of Pam and Deidre but also to take action," Turner said. "If they just would have had one moment to help them to escape, this is what we're here for, just to offer that one moment. We also want to make sure that employees know how to safely carry and use pepper spray. This bill requires the Illinois State Police to develop a training program for the DCFS staff."

If passed, the bill would be effective immediately.

"We expect a simple, straightforward program offered from the state police and the cost of the program would be minimal but as the appropriation process moves forward we’re happy to work to make sure that the state police has ample resources to cover that," Turner said. "AFSCME is supportive of this bill and I've been told that the State Police has no issues as well. While these bills were filed after the deadline, we’re planning to file identical legislation on these shell bills."