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McCombie appointed to Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission

Clinton Herald - 9/13/2021

Sep. 13—SAVANNA, Ill. — Illinois State Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, has been appointed to the state's newly formed Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission.

"Domestic violence prevention advocates and law enforcement want to coordinate a more comprehensive review of domestic homicides so recommendations can be compiled, reported and put forward with the goal of changing this outcome for victims of domestic violence," McCombie said when explaining the need for the Commission.

McCombie was a cosponsor of the legislation creating the Commission, enacted as Public Act 102-520, which passed the Illinois House and Senate unanimously before being signed into law by the Governor in late summer. The City of Rockford, as well as numerous domestic violence prevention, victim advocacy and behavioral health organizations, and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police backed the bill as a needed step to create strong recommendations.

McCombie, a member of the House Judiciary-Criminal Law Committee, led the charge to change state law to protect state employees responding to reports of domestic violence. Her advocacy kept at forefront the brutal murder of DCFS caseworker Pam Knight, who was responding to a report of domestic abuse against a child only to be beaten herself by the child's abuser, Andrew Sucher. Knight later died of her injuries.

"The victims are not alone in suffering the negative outcomes created by their abusers," said McCombie. "Our law enforcement, child welfare, public safety and public health officials understand these negative outcomes go well beyond the walls of the homes in which victims are abused. I take seriously the task of putting in the hard work to review these cases to help create recommendations and strategies to bring about better results for abuse victims and our communities."

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