October 10, 2022
From: Robert A. Williams
814 E Stagecoach Trail
Lawndale, NC 28090
To: Ms. Katie Swanson, Director
Cleveland County Department of Social Services
130 S. Post Road
Shelby, NC 28152
Dear Ms. Swanson,
I have received email correspondence related to various situations of high public interest regarding operations and personal interactions within the offices of the Cleveland County Department of Social Services (CCDSS). I will provide that correspondence in full later in this report.
Of particular interest is are references to actions and inactions by CCDSS personnel that raise suspicions that the CCDSS personnel and leadership are engaged in activities that appear to me to violate North Carolina laws regarding Abuse, Neglect and Dependency.
As I am a citizen of Cleveland County, NC; I am also aware that North Carolina Laws require that any and every person who has reason to suspect child abuse, child neglect and/or child dependency related to any child is compelled by NC Criminal Law to report that “good faith” suspicion to the Director of the Department of Social Services in the County that the child or children is/are believed to reside. In this correspondence the children reside within the confines of the CCDSS.
As you will soon see, this following correspondence to me alleges the residence of the abused, neglected or dependent children is at the DSS Building at 130 S. Post Road in Shelby NC. And the alleged perpetrators are Cleveland County DSS personnel and leadership.
The subject Correspondence is shown below. The bolded and underlined portions are the basis of my reasons to suspect violations of NC Law in regard to child abuse, neglect and dependency. It is also noted that the author of this correspondence is believed to be a CCDSS employee and under the provisions of “Whistleblower” laws as I know then, the identity of the sender will remain anonymous due to the high likelihood that he or she will be subject to retaliation.
The Message:
Mr. Williams,
Where do I start? This place is falling apart.
Have you noticed the job postings for DSS lately? Job fairs? People are leaving weekly, sometimes 2-3 at a time. Long term employees and the newly employed.
Did you hear about the program manager and her subordinate supervisor that was terminated (given the opportunity to resign) for having an affair that had been going on for months? Right under the director’s nose with 90% of all employees being aware including other program managers and supervisors.
What about the new deputy director who had a Facebook page with pictures of her barely clothed and her husband holding guns or sticking up his middle finger? It spread through the department like fire. Employees were shocked that social media is not checked before offering jobs to people. Many employees saved pictures before the director contacted her and she changed it to private so you may be able to obtain some of those. Refer to the only sample I found below. Integrity? Morals?
The worst of all is the children that are being housed at the department without a suitable living area, proper bed or access to bathe. There was a disabled child there for three weeks without any stability, different people to supervise him every four hours, not receiving proper nutrition, sleeping on the floor, no bath for days possibly weeks and workers giving medication they have not been trained to dispense. Does the state know? Would the state approve?
Several times lately I’ve heard people make comments like “wonder why RW hasn’t got ahold of this” or that your insider no longer works here. I hope there is some good change soon or more of will be leaving and I would hate to see the impact on the county residents.
Peace and blessings,
(Name withheld by RAW)
Please notify me in writing of the results of your investigations.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Williams
Please note that I have copied the Cleveland County Commissioners, the NC Attorney General, the NC Governor, The Cleveland County Sheriff and District Attorney and the Shelby Police Chief.
