Officers Allege Hidden Cameras, Microphones in VA Changing Room: Report

At least two dozen current and former medical center police officers are accusing their bosses at the Washington, D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center of secretly videotaping and recording them in a changing room at the center, NBC-4 reports.

The officers have filed a federal lawsuit, the TV station’s investigative team reports. The officers said the camera violated their reasonable expectation of privacy in the changing room.

Officers are accusing VA Police Chief Jerry Brown of monitoring a live feed from the changing room and other cameras they allege are located in other areas where officers gather, including a break room at the center, at 50 Irving St. NW, in Washington, D.C.

Brown was appointed Chief of Police for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington DC in April 2012.

The officers say that Brown and Brian Hawkins, director of the medical center, conspired to install the cameras to spy on employees, according to the report by NBC4. Hawkins was appointed Medical Center director in September 2011, according to the VA Medical Center Web site.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released the following statement to NBC-4: “VA remains vigilant in maintaining a workplace environment that protects our employees. However, we cannot not comment on this case due to pending litigation.”

Go to NBC-4 for the entire report.

PHOTO: Washington DC VA Medical Center, image from center Web site