Whistleblowers behind Dutchess County day care probe allege coworker was inappropriately touching children

A whistleblower says she and two other staff members, all who have since quit, alerted Child Protective Services about the allegations in February after the employee was allegedly moved twice by management to work with older children each time they complained, instead of being fired.

Blaise Gomez

Mar 12, 2024, 9:57 PM

Updated 284 days ago

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News 12 is speaking with two whistleblowers behind allegations of a former child care worker inappropriately touching young children at Kidz Town day care in Wappingers Falls.
WARNING: The following information may be disturbing to some people.
“I witnessed when she was touching little girls,” says one woman. “The first few times it was the back of one child’s shirt and she would just be like rubbing and playing with her. Then it increased to having her sit on her lap and having her hand up the back of her shirt, saying ‘you’re going to come home with me, we are going to play dollies.’”
The woman says she and two other staff members, all who have since quit, alerted Child Protective Services about the allegations in February after the employee was allegedly moved twice by management to work with older children each time they complained, instead of being fired.
“It was multiple times, on multiple occasions,” says another whistleblower. “I witnessed when she was touching little girls.”
The women asked we keep their identities private and allege the worker was seen by multiple staff members repeatedly touching and rubbing children under their shirts and pants inside the facility on Route 9 since January.
“It was a huge uproar,” said one woman. “The teachers upstairs were saying this is inappropriate and it’s either she goes or they go.
The whistleblowers allege that the woman claimed she was checking to see if children soiled themselves during the alleged instances she was seen with her hands down their pants, and say the children involved were potty trained and not wearing diapers.
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services oversees day cares. According to online state records, their investigation into the allegations is ongoing but state police say their probe showed “no criminality” was involved.
Kidz Town staff told News 12 last week that the accused staffer was fired and that the allegations are “lies” from disgruntled employees who quit. News 12 reached out to the center again on Tuesday by phone and spoke to an unidentified woman.
“I’m sure the police told you that their investigation was unfounded, right? I can assure you it is,” said the Kidz Town representative who later referred our inquires to their attorney.
News 12 reached out to their attorney for comment but haven’t heard back.
OCFS posted five new violations against the day care since News 12's report about the probe last week, and their records show the facility never notified authorities or parents of the alleged incidents like they’re required to.
State records also show Kid Town has a total of 14 open violations stemming from the alleged incident and a fire safety inspection last August.
“At the end of the day, they have to live with themselves,” said one whistleblower. “They had an obligation to take care of these people’s children.”