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Former EMU officer charged for allegedly hiding camera in locker room
Former EMU officer charged for allegedly hiding camera in locker room

Yahoo

time21-06-2025

  • Yahoo

Former EMU officer charged for allegedly hiding camera in locker room

The Brief Former EMU officer Alex Colarossi was charged for allegedly hiding cameras in a hotel and locker room, violating the privacy of colleagues. A cybersecurity expert advises checking for hidden cameras in hotels; suggests using phone cameras to detect infrared signals. Colarossi resigned amid the investigation; three female victims were identified, with more digital evidence still being reviewed. YPSILANTI, Mich. (FOX 2) - A former Eastern Michigan University police officer was charged for allegedly hiding cameras in a hotel and locker room to spy on colleagues. What they're saying Hotel rooms and locker rooms are where we expect the most privacy, but not in the case of 27-year-old Alex Colarossi, who was accused of concealing cameras. The former officer for EMU allegedly hid a camera in the hotel room of a co-worker during a police union conference in Grand Rapids last January. Police say a camera was also placed in the locker room at the EMU Police Department. Sources tell FOX 2 there are three female victims across two departments, and there is still more digital evidence to go through. Cybersecurity expert David Derigiotis is not surprised one bit. "These are things I'm always very paranoid about, so I'm always checking for hidden devices," he said. "I've seen blackmail cases around it or people who are just looking to take advantage of people when they're at their most vulnerable." Derigiotis has a routine when he stays in hotels or vacation rentals. "You can do some very low-tech things, such as looking for where there could be little pinhole cameras installed, maybe if you see an alarm clock that's tilted towards the bed. If you see power sources where a cord is plugged in, and you're not sure where it's going," he said. For $20-$30, you can buy a hidden camera detector on Amazon. But if you don't want to take it that far, there's another route. "I turn the lights off, and you can just simply open the camera app on the phone, scan it around, and it may pick up a very low infrared light that's blinking or shining," he said. "I think it's important to have some level of paranoia, because when it does happen, it can be very damaging; it's certainly an invasion of privacy." What's next Former officer Alex Colarossi resigned from EMU Police amid the state police investigation. A statement from the chief there says in part: "These allegations are deeply troubling to me and our entire team, and we take them very seriously. Upon becoming aware of the situation, the individual was immediately placed on administrative leave and the University initiated steps to terminate him. As the Michigan State Police, Sixth District, investigated the matter, the individual resigned his position. According to our present understanding of MSP's investigation to date, the former officer's actions appear to have been targeted to a co-worker. There is no indication of similar actions of this nature against anyone else on our campus." The Source FOX 2 used information from EMU police and court documents for details in this report.

Pompano Beach considers breaking away from BSO to form own police department
Pompano Beach considers breaking away from BSO to form own police department

CBS News

time05-06-2025

  • Business
  • CBS News

Pompano Beach considers breaking away from BSO to form own police department

After 26 years of law enforcement provided by the Broward Sheriff's Office, the City of Pompano Beach is considering whether to reestablish its own police department. The city is launching a feasibility study to determine if forming a local police force would better serve its needs, as costs for BSO services continue to rise. "It builds strong relationships" Tundra King, a longtime resident and business owner in Pompano Beach, supports the idea of returning to a city-run police department. "I'm definitely for going for an independent study to take a look at perhaps going back to Pompano Police Department," King said. She recalls a time when local officers knew the neighborhoods and the people in them. "I remember all the police officers that used to work for the city of Pompano and that was paramount as it relate to when things occurred in our community. I always knew I had an officer that I can call, provide information to," she said. Costs continue to climb Mayor Rex Hardin acknowledged the good work BSO is doing but said the cost has become a major concern. "BSO, they're doing a great job for us, but it's a hefty price tag," he said. City records show Pompano Beach paid $53 million to BSO for police services in 2022. That number rose to $57.5 million in 2025. The proposal for 2026 climbs to $72.8 million, which includes 28 new positions. "Public safety, it takes well over 50% of the taxes that come in every, every year, so it's important that we look at this occasionally and make sure that we're getting the bang for the buck that we really need for our residents and getting the outcomes that we really need," Hardin said. A neighboring city's experience Pembroke Park broke away from BSO and formed its own police department in 2022. Mayor Geoffrey Jacobs said while the process was far from simple, it has paid off. "Go to Costco, buy the biggest size palette of red tape you can find, and start there. It is not a simple process," Jacobs said. He said local control has made a difference in community relations and emergency response. "It was a mammoth project to build our own department. In the end, it is the best thing our city has is our own police department." According to Jacobs, the 22 officers in Pembroke Park are now well known by residents, and response times have improved significantly. Next steps BSO declined to comment, citing the early stage of the city's process. The next step will be for a committee to select a firm to conduct the feasibility study. Final approval will rest with the city commission.

Menomonee Falls board in favor of moving funds from library to police
Menomonee Falls board in favor of moving funds from library to police

Yahoo

time20-05-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Menomonee Falls board in favor of moving funds from library to police

The Brief The Menomonee Falls Village Board passed a resolution that will allocate $300,000 from the library tax levy to the police department in 2026. It was approved unanimously. After public comment, the decision left some Menomonee Falls residents heated. MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. - Funding for the library or the police department? On Monday, May 19, the Menomonee Falls Board of Trustees passed a resolution that changes where your tax dollars go. What we know The Menomonee Falls Village Board passed a resolution that will allocate $300,000 from the library tax levy to the police department in 2026. It was approved unanimously. Last month, police chief Mark Waters told the board they are short-staffed but saw an 18% increase in serious crime compared to last year. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android That, plus the board said the library will still have a buffer when it comes to the budget. Local perspective After public comment, the decision left some Menomonee Falls residents heated. Five people spoke during the public comment, urging the board to reconsider it. But the village board said it is putting public safety first. "It's a valuable resource in this town. I can't imagine you know the budget and who is going to lose their jobs. Librarians, what services we can't offer," resident Andrew Guss said. "There is a lot of people that this library effects." The backstory It's not the first time library funding has come up at a board meeting. Back in 2023, there were rumors the library was in danger of closing after an email circulated saying the village was already planning on not funding the library in the future. Village board members at the time said that wasn't true. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News "We have standards the county sets for the library and currently we are $600,000 above that minimum standards," Village President Jeremy Walz said. What's next The village president said now the library board will make its budget based on the new allocations – so it's not yet clear how the library will be impacted. The Source The information in this post was collected and produced by FOX6 News.

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