Welfare supervisor on leave after leaving foul message

The North Idaho child welfare supervisor who accidentally left an obscene message on a client’s phone has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Randy Geib will be off indefinitely while supervisors conduct an inquiry into the July 19 incident, said Tom Shanahan, a spokesman for the agency. He’ll continue to draw his monthly salary of $6,371, according to state employment records.

“We’re looking into it,” Shanahan said. “Things are moving.”

Geib, who marked 34 years Wednesday with Idaho’s Department of Health and Welfare, thought he had hung up after leaving a message for Bryan Sturdy of Coeur d’Alene, whose 5-year-old son was removed from home by child welfare workers. Using a string of profanities, Geib joked that he had almost left his home phone number instead of a work number for Sturdy.

Sturdy took the recording to a Hayden private investigator, Phillip Thompson, who relayed it to Idaho Sen. Mike Jorgensen, R-Athol. Incensed, Jorgensen called Monday for an investigation into the behavior of Geib and his agency. Geib supervises caseworkers in the five North Idaho counties.

Sturdy could not be reached for comment. Thompson said he was pleased at the news that Geib was off the job.

“It’s a start,” said Thompson, who has been critical of child welfare officials. “But they need to conduct a full investigation of the department.”