And yet, so much more to be done…
Steve Schultze and Meg Kissinger of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel write that
Milwaukee County officials said late Wednesday that John Chianelli, who oversees the troubled Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex, would be leaving that post Monday.
The announcement followed growing criticism of Chianelli in the wake of a Journal Sentinel investigation into problems at the complex, including lax supervision of a patient with a history of violence and other cases of bungled care.
Omowale Atkins is facing charge of sexually assaulting one patient and is believed to be the father of a baby born to another patient in April. That woman also said had been sexually assaulted by Atkins, but no charges were filed after a psychiatrist told investigators he believed the sex was consensual.
The newspaper found Atkins repeatedly was allowed to leave the secure ward, against doctor’s orders, with nurses filing false paperwork to say he was being checked every 15 minutes. Twice he had overnight visits to group homes, but staff did not inform the group home operators of his history of violence….
A statement issued Wednesday by Geri Lyday, the interim director of the county’s Department of Health and Human Services, provided no reasons for the removal of Chianelli.
It said Chianelli, in his post since late 2007, will transfer to a position as deputy director of the Disabilities Services Division….
“A search for a new BHD director is underway,” Lyday said in the statement.
See, Chianelli removed as head of mental health complex.
Patients, families of patients, residents of Milwaukee County, and residents of Wisconsin owe the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel thanks for committed and honest journalism, in the service of honesty, clarity, and the principled, compassionate treatment of vulnerable people.
For those under the care of the Disabilities Services Division, to which Chianelli has been transferred, this must be a disappointing day — Chianelli should have been sacked, and his statements and actions should be the subject of a thorough criminal investigation. He’s now, sadly, able to afflict others. That will never be right.
This issue will only go away when those responsible have been disciplined or removed entirely, and those who come after assure more humane treatment.
I’ve posted about Chianelli’s policy, and the tragedy that is conduct at the MHC, before. See, A Milwaukee County Bureaucrat’s Immoral Utilitarianism, Update: A Milwaukee County Bureaucrat’s Immoral Utilitarianism, Update 2, Update 3, Update 4, Update 5, Update 6, Update 7, Update 8, Update 9, Update 10, Update 11, Update 12, Update 13, Update 14, Update 15, Update 16, Update 17, and Update 18.