Police investigating hidden locker room camera at Waukesha swim school

WAUKESHA -- A hidden camera was found in the employee locker room of Waukesha swim school, police say.

According to a statement from the Waukesha Police Department, a 17-year-old swim instructor at Swimtastic found the camera and the business owner called police around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

The instructor, who police say is a victim in the investigation, reportedly had changed out of her swimsuit when she noticed a hole in a box of tissues on a shelf. When she investigated, she found a camera inside. She then told another employee who went into the room and told her to destroy the camera. That employee, a 21-year-old man, then fled the business before police arrived. He was also a swimming instructor.

The man confessed on Feb. 6 that he used his personal phone as a camera -- he discarded it at Swimtastic, and it was later found by staff and handed over to police.

Police are continuing a forensic investigation of the phone. Authorities also say that the camera was only ever used in the employee locker room. No clients of Swimstastic are believed to be involved in the crime, and the business is fully cooperating, police say.

Swimtastic issued the following statement:

"I received an update from the Waukesha Police Department that we want to share with our swim students and families. We are saddened to learn that evidence has been discovered implicating one of our employees tied to hiding a camera in the employee-only dressing room.  It is our understanding that charges are being pressed, victims have been notified, and we are continuing to give our full cooperation in the police investigation. Our deepest sympathies are with the individuals affected by that employee’s disturbing actions. Detectives confirm that their investigation is revealing that no clients of Swimtastic were the subject of this incident. It is our promise to our team of instructors and clients and their families that we will take every measure necessary to ensure we protect the safety of our swim school environment.

Third-party background checks are an important part of our hiring practices that we always adhere to and we have a strict zero-tolerance policy for misconduct. While the police indicated that we could not have foreseen this incident, we take responsibility to find every way imaginable to guard against something of this nature from ever occurring again. Our number one priority right now is supporting our team of instructors to navigate this troubling situation and support them however needed."


-- Michelle Posey, Owner, Waukesha Swimtastic Swim School