Janitor Had Secret Camera In Village Hall Bathroom: Ossining Police

OSSINING, NY — The head janitor at Village Hall has been accused of secretly installing a camera in a bathroom. He has been suspended from his job and arrested by Ossining police. Lider Velez, who has worked for the village for more than a decade, was arrested Wednesday.

Ossining Mayor Victoria Gearity said she and the village trustees were horrified by the allegations.

"Protecting all of our staff is the responsibility of our police department and Village management. It's a responsibility the Village takes seriously," Gearity said. "OPD responded immediately with an investigation, then made an arrest and charged the individual within 24 hours. Thankfully this appears to be isolated to a single location. The employee was suspended immediately. Each day dedicated Village employees admirably serve the people of Ossining. We are outraged by the acts that this individual has been charged with.The County Employee Assistant Program has been notified, and will be called on to offer support for Village employees affected by this incident."

"Although hidden cameras, by their nature, are difficult to detect, we’re encouraging everyone to stay aware of your surroundings," police continued in their Facebook post. "If you find something that seems out of place or suspicious, don’t hesitate to call. The safety, security, and privacy of our staff and residents are our highest priorities."

Charges are accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.