Metro East Sun

State Sen. Steve McClure (R-Jacksonville) recently introduced legislation that would allow Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) employees to carry pepper spray for defensive purposes if ever caught in dangerous circumstances while on duty.

Senate Bill 4165 would allow DCFS workers (who have been trained) to carry and use pepper spray for self defense as they investigate reports of child abuse or neglect. The bill requires the Illinois State Police to develop a training program and the Department of Children and Family Services to fund the program.

“It is legal for people to carry pepper spray for their own protection, as many do all over this state," McClure said, according to the Freeburg Tribune. "Yet DCFS workers who have to walk into abusive homes are not allowed that same protection. This is a common-sense step to help them while performing what is an incredibly important job.

McClure is a chief co-sponsor of the Knight-Silas Bill, which is named after Deidre Silas and Pam Knight who were both DCFS employees that were killed on the job. The bill would give DCFS workers equal protection as firefighters, police officers, corrections officers, and private security employees, according to Metro East Sun.

Knight was severely beaten in 2017 by Andrew Sucher after being sent to his home to take his two-year-old child in protective custody, according to WQUD. She later died from her injuries

According to CBS Chicago, Silas, 36, on Jan. 4 was stabbed to death after a home visit in Thayer.

"We have to make it clear that we will not tolerate any kind of violence against the people who are working to protect kids and families," McClure said, according to Metro East Sun. "I am proud to be a chief co-sponsor of this legislation, as I was not to be a chief co-sponsor of similar legislation in the past. I am hopeful that we can finally advance this idea, particularly to honor the memory of Deidre Silas and her public service to our state's most vulnerable children and families."

Republicans have called for investigations into DCFS Director Mark Smith after he was hit with contempt of court orders alleging that he had violated the civil rights of two children, according to Kendall County Times.