3 lose nursing-home jobs after nude photos alleged

BREMERTON — Three employees of Kitsap Health & Rehabilitation Center have been fired amid allegations that they took nude cellphone pictures of residents. The state Department of Social and Health Services is investigating.

Nursing-home administrators reported the alleged abuse to the Bremerton Police Department on Jan. 27. Staff members said in written statements that the suspects had shown the pictures to other staff members as a joke some weeks ago.

One suspect, a 41-year-old Retsil resident who is a licensed practical nurse, told Bremerton police he and the two other suspects had sent "funny" pictures of residents to each other — for example one of a resident sticking out his tongue — but denied having taken inappropriate photos.

The suspect said someone — he said he didn't know who — had sent him a photo of a resident of unknown gender bending over, with naked buttocks showing. He reported deleting the image and telling the other two suspects not to send any more cellphone pictures of residents.

The pictures were taken around Christmas, the suspect said. He said he has deleted all photos of residents.

Witnesses also reported seeing other photographs.

The nursing-home administrators said residents involved were not aware the photos had been taken. All but one have severe dementia.

The other suspects are women, ages 26 and 27, both nurse aides from Bremerton. All three employees at first were suspended and later fired. The three have been reported to a medical panel for review of alleged violations.