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Resident raises hidden-camera concerns at Fire Station 8; mayor and police say criminal investigation opened immediately
Summary
During public comment a resident said women alleged concealed cameras were discovered in Fire Station 8 bunk rooms on Feb. 2. Mayor Bill Wells and the city said police opened a criminal investigation within an hour of notification; council members stressed the city took action promptly.
A member of the public told the El Cajon City Council during public comment on May 13 that women had alleged concealed cameras were discovered in bunk rooms at Fire Station 8 on Feb. 2 and said the city should have acted sooner. Mayor Bill Wells and council members responded that the police department opened a criminal investigation immediately upon notification.
The commenter said "the city should have immediately addressed this issue on February 3, not May 5," and alleged the presence of cameras raised civil-rights concerns for women who work at the station. The mayor replied that the police opened an investigation "within less than an hour" of notification and that evidence (the cameras) had been turned over to law enforcement. The mayor said the department had not delayed and that criminal investigators have been handling the matter since then.
Nut graf: The exchange in public comment centered on the timing of the city's response to alleged concealed cameras at a fire station. City officials told the council the department began an investigation immediately after notification; no additional operational details or outcomes of the investigation were disclosed at the meeting.
What was said on the record
- Public commenter: raised concerns about a lawsuit alleging civil-rights violations connected to concealed cameras found in Fire Station 8 bunk rooms, criticized timing of the city's public response.
- Mayor Bill Wells (as recorded): said the police department opened a criminal investigation within less than an hour of being notified and that the city has been "on top of this thing." He urged the public to understand law enforcement had taken immediate steps.
Follow-up and limits
Council and staff did not provide additional investigative details in open session. The city attorney had earlier reported that the council met in closed session on three legal matters, two described as existing litigation and one as a workers' compensation claim; the attorney reported that no direction was given on the first two matters and that direction was given to the city's workers' comp adjusting agent on the third. The city did not state whether any of the closed-session items correspond to the public comment allegations.
No decisions or votes were taken in open session specifically on this matter during the May 13 meeting.
