Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
According to recent reports, three members of the Elgin Fire Department faced disciplinary actions after an internal investigation uncovered that they had taken and shared explicit photos and videos while on duty. The incident, which came to light through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, involved a lieutenant and two other firefighters who were found to have engaged in inappropriate behavior during their shifts.
Lt. Amanda Bruce was demoted to the rank of firefighter, while firefighters John Sardina and Eric McMahon lost their special roles as driver and mechanic, respectively. These decisions were made following agreements between the employees, the International Association of Firefighters Local 439, and the city of Elgin. All three were suspended for 20 days, and the city reserves the right to terminate them if similar misconduct occurs within the next three years.
The investigation, conducted by the city’s professional standards officer, revealed that Bruce and Sardina took sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves while on duty at fire stations, and McMahon took similar photos of himself. According to the report, all materials depicted the individuals alone, with Sardina and McMahon sending their images to Bruce, who then shared hers with Sardina and an unnamed boyfriend. The content dates back to 2009 through 2013.
Fire Chief John Fahy stated that the employees admitted their wrongdoing and expressed a desire to make amends. He emphasized that the disciplinary action was not influenced by the FOIA request, which was submitted in March. The settlement had already been in progress, with the city aiming to finalize the process before releasing the full details.
The materials included videos of Bruce in a fire station bathroom and photos of her in various states of undress. She admitted to taking these while on duty using her personal phone and email. Sardina's photos were taken in fire station bathrooms, including one where he is seen exiting a shower with a towel around his waist—photographed by Bruce, according to the report. McMahon also took selfies in fire station restrooms.
The case first came to light nearly two years ago when Battalion Chief Terrence Bruce reported his wife, Amanda, for misconduct involving Sardina and McMahon. However, the city could not compel him to provide evidence, so it returned the materials to him. Later, Amanda Bruce reported to police that her ex-husband had accessed private information, including photos and videos, leading to a criminal investigation that ended without charges being filed.
An administrative review followed in 2015 to determine if the misconduct occurred during work hours. The process involved verifying timestamps on the media and cross-referencing them with staffing records. Fahy said the city took its time to ensure accuracy and fairness in the investigation.
Initially, Fahy considered firing the three employees, but he ultimately decided on disciplinary action instead. “They are good employees with strong records,†he said. “A single mistake doesn’t define them.â€
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