Erin Maxwell, 11 years old, murdered by her stepbrother; Jordan Brooks a 17-year-old with cerebral palsy, died due to sepsis and malnutrition; Galaxy Cruz, 15 months old, found dead in her crib with multiple bruises and fractures, investigation ongoing.  These are the children who lost their life in Oswego County under the watch of the Department of Social Services (DSS).  

DSS had received multiple calls over the years from family, friends, physicians, therapists, schoolteachers, and aides on these children.  Cases were opened and closed as unfounded by DSS.  Caseworkers told these reporters to “stop bothering them”.  Erin Maxwell lived in what was called the “house of horrors”; Jordan Brooks weighed 55 pounds at the time of his death, he had bedsores that exposed his bones, his wheelchair filled with mold and urine; Galaxy Cruz was found dead in her crib, her face and scalp had bruises, there were recent fractures to her wrist and forearm.  She shared a home with several people who were known pedophiles and drug abusers.  Yet in each case, DSS did nothing to protect these children from their killers.  They chose to turn a blind eye on these innocent, helpless children. 

DSS is supposed to provide services to vulnerable children suspected to be at risk of abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and they did none of this for these children.  They allowed them to remain in unspeakable situations and suffer until the day they were taken from this earth.  An investigation was conducted into DSS after Erin’s death, however, nothing changed with DSS to ensure the safety of our children and no one within this agency was held accountable.  More recently, after the death of Jordan Brooks, Commissioner Alvord of DSS has come to the departments defense saying they were understaffed, not qualified to handle children with disabilities, and continues to use the pandemic as an excuse for her staff not following through in his case.  She is quoted as saying; “they will try to do better going forward”.  “Doing better” is a subjective term and poor choice of words. We need an action plan, not lip service.

The employees at DSS continue to be employed with no consequences for failing these children.  Two investigations have been approved by the Oswego County Legislature to look into DSS and the role they played in Jordan's death.  These investigations are being conducted by firms that they chose.  An independent investigation into DSS needs to be conducted by the Attorney General’s Office.  

The signatures collected in this petition will be forward to Governor Hochul asking her to formally request that the Attorney General’s Office open an official investigation into DSS for their role they played in his death.    

Our community cannot allow another death at the hands of DSS.  They must be held accountable.