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Senator Young calls for state investigation into NYS OCFS
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by Rhonda J Mangus | June 10, 2009 at 08:43 pm
1729 views | 30 Recommendations | 54 comments
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On Tuesday, New York State Senator Catharine Young (R-Olean) called for a state investigation into New York State Office of Children and Family Services after a group home worker was murdered to allegedly conceal a $160.00 theft.
Twenty-four year old Renee C. Greco of Buffalo, New York, was working alone at a six-bed group home run by Wyndham Lawn Home for Children, a facility for troubled youth located in Lockport, New York.
Police have charged Anthony J. Allen, 18, and Robert J. Thousand, 17, both of Rochester, with second-degree murder, robbery and burglary, after Greco was found dead shortly after 9:30 p. m. in the dining room of Avenue House, the East Avenue group home.
The two were residents of the home, a six-bed group home run by Wyndham Lawn Home for Children, a facility for troubled youths. The East Avenue group home, which dates back to at least 1969, provides troubled youths with a social worker and access to community-based drug and alcohol counseling.
A third teen apprehended with the two has not been charged.
State Sen. Catharine M. Young, ROlean, on Tuesday called for a state investigation of the Office of Children & Family Services, to determine whether the two charged with murder had been placed appropriately in the group home.
“I suspect very strongly that they were not, that they were higher-level offenders,” Young said.
Young said if an investigation reveals such improper placements, she is calling for Children & Family Services Commissioner Gladys Carrion to be removed or forced to resign.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (54)
at 23:15 on June 10th, 2009
She should be aware of whats happening and act upon it appropiately thats her job.
at 23:26 on June 10th, 2009
jazz, if by 'she' you mean NYS OCFS Commissioner Gladys Carrion. Yes, absolutely! However, I suspect, along with Senator Young, that "...they were higher-level offenders,..." and that Commissioner Carrion probably will have some explaining to do.
at 23:31 on June 10th, 2009
PS jazz, thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation:)!
at 09:16 on June 11th, 2009
If there were six 'troubled' youths in the group home, a young woman should not have been expected to work alone. She should have had a male partner to work with no matter what the level of risk. It would not have been appropriate to have a young male supervising six 'troubled' females. What were the administrators thinking?
at 14:00 on June 19th, 2009
here was other workers at the avenue house group home im currently at whyndam lawn which is part of avenue house there was other staff that worked there
at 15:21 on June 19th, 2009
ashley drexinger, thank you for reading and commenting. I'm sure there were other staff who worked at Avenue House. The problem is, Renee Greco was working alone with at least 5 troubled youth, including alleged murderers Allen and Thousand, on the evening she was brutally murdered (June 8, 2009).
at 05:56 on June 12th, 2009
Barbara, thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation!
"What were the administrators thinking?"
We are about to find out because, "Greco's murder triggers tough questions for NYS OCFS".
at 08:27 on June 13th, 2009
Thanks for reporting on this story.
Everyone in this state should be very afraid of Commissioner Carrion. She would have these troubled youth back in school with your children...what then? Remeber the YDA (gaurd) who was beaten over the head with a two-by-four type piece of wood. He later had a stroke and died. This, however, had nothing to do with his death.....just a coincidence I suppose. How many more innocent people have to die before we realize YDAs and Youth counselors deal with dangerous criminals regardless of their age.
Jackpot
at 08:39 on June 13th, 2009
Jackpoy, you are very welcome! Thank you for reading and commenting. I'm sorry I am not aware of the YDA guard who was beaten. Would you happen to have a link to the story? Thanks!
at 13:35 on June 23rd, 2009
I work in at a location where a staff got hit in the head with a chair thrown by a youth (female) in the classroom 2wks ago. Now it looks like they are trying to have the charges dropped.
at 02:43 on June 15th, 2009
Leader-Hearld Troy NY
at 17:48 on June 15th, 2009
I hope everyone just KEEPS DIGGING!! such a shame a death had to occur before investigations started.
at 18:14 on June 15th, 2009
sneez, thank you for reading and commenting. I believe you have answered my question to jackpoy, thank you. The gentleman who died in 2008 after a series of events that included being struck by a resident over the head with a piece of wood is Charles Loftly. Some Tryon staffers get orders of protection. Thanks again!
at 02:37 on June 16th, 2009
Please read the comments from the Troy newspaper very carefully.There is a lot being said!And keep asking questions and please keep DIGGING!!
at 02:43 on June 16th, 2009
Please read the comments from the Troy newspaper very carefully.There is a lot being said!And keep asking questions and please keep DIGGING!!
at 19:39 on June 16th, 2009
FYI even Secure facilities For boys are have issues with assaults ,and dangerous violence ,many other youths in these places are being sent to county jails after assaults on staff and other residents.. but these are not making the news. It,s around the entire state... Carrion has tied our hands and have given control over to the kids.. Heck ,carrion has even approved a "social night" .This is a night when the a Youth may invite A female of there choice into a secure facility for a DANCE.. This is a max secure facility!!!!! Come on!! Keep digging!! A Yda Even lost the tip of his finger months ago. Gang assaults
at 18:42 on June 22nd, 2009
Bob Counselor, with all due respect -- Commissioner Carrion has not tied your hands. There are Whistleblower Protection Policies at both federal and state levels that protect employees of government agencies from retaliation. You might want to do a search of these laws to know what your rights are if you choose to "expose the truth of the system".
at 13:43 on June 23rd, 2009
You are right, I work down state in non-secure, with limited secure kids. Thats all we are aloud to know about them. The are not being held accountable for their actions while in placement. Does the fact that they are teenagers make it less of a crime. The fact of the matter is these are not 8, 9 or 10 yr olds. We work with youth that are 13+ and weight between 120-200+ lbs and are aggressive, destructive, and very criminally minded. The YDA's need to be supported so the youth will fall in line, not the other way around.
at 19:47 on June 16th, 2009
We Need the media To expose Carrion .. Please help us in OCFS..Thats 2deaths in less than one year.How many more will die under her ?
at 23:34 on June 16th, 2009
Well only media can help us bringing out in public,people who are behind all this...
at 19:09 on June 17th, 2009
And we haven't even started discussing the unreported rapes of female staff that have been swept under the rug? Freedom of Information Act USE IT, please!!!!
at 05:21 on June 18th, 2009
As a worker of OCFS,the public needs to know whats happening with our state workers. All u hear about is layoffs and cutbacks, welll this is what happens when they do this.As a woman in OCFS I know for a fact that u cannot search a male youth if needed so whats the deal , a women should have NEVER been left alone with these youth.If an instance came up where a search was needed its against policy to search them.I hope the investigations keep going , this is our only hope. This is the second death in OCFS at the hands of these youth offenders, not to mention the rising number of assaults on our staff. OCFS workers feel like there is no where to turn when trying to express the danger in all our facilities. We have tried to no avail. Carrion right now is so high on herself that she needs a reality check, I think its horrible that the reality check is Renee Greco.
at 05:32 on June 18th, 2009
Another question that I have, is why....after there was a theft investigation at this place, would they have this young lady alone with these youth. That is common sense that the youth would be desperate to cover it up.
at 05:37 on June 18th, 2009
You are so right 'no where to turn' You must be on the front line along with me. The assaults on staff are increasing by the day. Kids are running a muck and like a swarm of locusts, destroying everything in their path. We can only hope the media continues this feeding frenzy until the truth comes out. You're right about the search policy, but when in the community a full strip search needs to be conducted when returning to a group home. Ms. Carrion, 'please speak into the mike'!! Shoe is finally on the other foot!
at 16:44 on June 18th, 2009
Unfortunately someone had to be killed for an investigation into Commisioner Gladys Carrions mission which is to treat all youth with in their communities. However, this is not the first serious incident, there has been many including rapes and the shooting of the Rochester Police Officer not long ago. Commisioner Carrion uses the "smoke in the mirrors" trick, stating that she is saving taxpayers money by keeping these high risk adolescents in their communities. However, it is at the risk of community safety. Before Commisioner Carrion was appointed there were rules and policies in place, but she has changed this. When OCFS staff try to express their concerns, she threatens them with their jobs or will say they only are disgruntled employees who are losing their jobs. As the old saying goes, the truth will come out in the end, but how many other innocent people will be hurt or killed Ms. Carrion???
at 18:51 on June 22nd, 2009
Justice2009, thank you for reading and commenting. Please see my response comment to Bob Counselor, above. Furthermore, you have both a right to express your concerns and have them addressed accordingly and, again, without fear of retaliation.
"Commisioner Carrion uses the "smoke in the mirrors" trick, stating that she is saving taxpayers money by keeping these high risk adolescents in their communities."
It is the case here (and I am sure there are other cases), that these youth were not kept in their own community (Rochester), but placed in another one (Lockport, NY).
"...the truth will come out in the end, but how many other innocent people will be hurt or killed Ms. Carrion???"
Hopefully, NONE!
at 05:19 on June 25th, 2009
What's more important to Carrion; someones life over money. Greco's life was just getting started.
at 18:29 on June 18th, 2009
Windham Lawn/ 'Training continues in trauma treatment '- Yeah right! Were trained by our peers. Biggest crock of hog wash!!! Training started only after 'the program' was in effect for over a year. Truly the left hand did NOT know what the right hand was or is doing!!
at 13:31 on June 20th, 2009
Hmmmmm didn't take more than a week for things cool down for such a heated subject. I hope we have not begun to forget about Ms. Grecko. I hope she did NOT die in vain!!! Instead of dousing the fire, the heat needs to be cranked up a few notches in the direction of Albany!! Please don't let the embers die!
at 16:21 on June 20th, 2009
Sneez, thank you for following this story. However, please be aware that "things are far from cooling down for such a heated subject.", and that no one has forgotten about Ms. Greco. A vigil is planned for Monday at 7:30 pm at Avenue House in Lockport, NY. The public is invited to attend.
You can find more information for this vigil and related stories on this matter on my NowPublic Channel, here.
Thanks again!