Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
A Massachusetts firefighter has been charged with using a hidden camera to secretly record a female colleague in the firehouse. Nicholas Tillman is facing two charges, unlawful interception of a wire or oral communication (wiretap) and secret sexual surveillance.
Tillman and the victim are members of the Easthampton Fire Department. The camera was reportedly placed in the women’s locker room, where it was discovered last week. News coverage is reporting one of the charges Tillman is facing is a wiretap violation. To clarify, most states combine wiretap (listening or recording electronic communications) with eavesdropping (listening or recording in-person conversations), commonly referring to both as a wiretap violation. Here is a copy of Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 272, Section 99 entitled Interception of wire or oral communications.
The other charge appears to be related to Mass GL Ch. 272, Section 105, entitled Photographing, videotaping or electronically surveilling partially nude or nude person or the sexual or other intimate parts….
This is the 21st such case I have in my database. Each involve a male firefighter recording a female.
