A Town of Suffield employee is being investigated after reporting an incident of suspected child abuse or neglect that happened last month.
According to town officials, the Parks and Recreation employee learned of the incident of suspected child abuse or neglect on July 3. The employee reported the incident to the Director of Parks and Recreation on Friday. The Suffield Police Department and Department of Children and Families were immediately notified.
After the employee reported the incident, town officials questioned whether the incident should have been reported sooner. The First Selectman's Office began an administrative investigation and has requested a criminal investigation into how long the incident took to be reported. The employee is on paid administrative leave during the investigation.
The incident did not happen at a town-related activity or program, town officials said.
Town officials have not released the employee's name. The investigation is ongoing and an arrest has not been made, police said.
Earlier in the week, Suffield police launched an investigation into allegations that school administrators and members of senior leadership of the Suffield Public School District, including the superintendent, failed to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the state Department of Children and Families. Law enforcement sources said the incident in question happened at the high school. A source said the incident in question involves a conversation between a student and school staff member about pornography.
