Shock and violation have swept through the El Cajon firefighting community as four women, working as first responders, found hidden cameras in their bunkrooms at Fire Station 8. The discovery was revealed in late February. This disturbing discovery has led to legal complaints against the City of El Cajon, with Bella Mason, an emergency medical technician, and three others at the center of the strife. In an interview with NBC San Diego, Mason expressed her dismay: "I just felt sick because it's gross. It's disgusting."
These hidden devices were designed to blend seamlessly with the environment, an insidious camouflage in the form of everyday objects like a charger and a clock. The deceit invaded their privacy and struck at their sense of safety and trust within their sanctuary. Dan Gilleon, representing the women, criticized the lack of progress in the investigation. "The policies are clear. They're just not following them," he told NBC San Diego. "If they cared, they would be doing everything they could to find out why it happened, how it happened, when it happened, who did it, and take corrective measures to make sure it never happens again. They're just not doing that."
Gilleon also highlighted the importance of a thorough investigation to prevent future occurrences, stating, per NBC San Diego, "In the cases of sexual harassment, unfortunately, a lot of guys do things based upon what they have seen others get away with." In his view, the lackluster response sends the wrong message. The aftershock of these events left Mason and her colleagues anxious, disrupting their sleep and work as they continued to run 911 calls and help people in need.
Meanwhile, El Cajon's deputy city manager declined to comment on the ongoing criminal investigation when approached by the Union-Tribune. Global Medical Response, the parent company of the ambulance service provider AMR, termed the discovery "deeply disturbing" and assured its commitment to support the women through this difficult situation. They even offered the affected employees the opportunity to hastily transfer to a different location, an option Mason and others felt was an unjust solution, since they did nothing wrong. "I feel really betrayed," Mason told NBC San Diego.
