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Child Protective Services Veteran To Lead Dallas-Area Operations

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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - In the wake of the beating death of a 4-year-old Grand Prairie girl, a new director was named to the for CPS' troubled operations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

George Cannata, a 19-year employee of CPS has replaced Jackie Freeman.

The previous director retired earlier this week after reports about skyrocketing turnover and two firings of employees who handled the case of little Leiliana Wright. She was beaten to death and her mother and her mother's boyfriend were arrested in connection with her murder. Wright's grandmother, Alisa Clakley said she made repeated calls to CPS, but nothing was ever done.

"I want justice to be done and maybe this is a beginning. It's a start," she's said.

Clakley said the system failed her granddaughter.

"These agencies are failing. I don't understand it. I don't understand how someone could fail that bad. It just doesn't make any sense to me and I don't think it ever will," said Clakley.

Cannata is set to start May 1.

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