Editorial: Sad end for camera saga at South Bend fire station. Broader issues still not over.

The end of the investigation into the hidden camera female firefighters with the South Bend Fire Department found in a department locker room leaves several unanswered questions.

It's also a disappointing and demoralizing conclusion for the women who were not only victimized but also tried to take action.

St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter announced last week in a press release that there were "strong indications" that someone may have attempted to commit the crime of voyeurism. "However, the investigation was unable to identify who had placed that recording device in the women’s locker room and uncover whether any recordings were actually made."

He praised the female firefighters who "stepped forward and the investigators who worked hard on this case.”

The Indiana State Police and prosecutor’s office conducted the investigation, which started in June. This came two months after all 12 female firefighters sent a letter to the mayor’s office, Fire Chief Carl Buchanon and the Board of Public Safety, urging them to address what they say is a longstanding culture of sexual harassment and discrimination within the fire department.

Now that the criminal investigation has ended, the city will complete its own investigation, a spokesman for the city said in a statement, "to determine if any department policies were violated and will take appropriate action accordingly."

In the meantime, the women who stepped forward and spoke up about workplace issues still have unaddressed grievances. There remain a host of questions about the culture within the fire department and the actions of its leaders.

The end of the camera incident, at least as a criminal case, is sad for the women, and for anyone who finds the courage to bring forth similar concerns. Justice was not served.

But are deeper issues still at play and do they still need to be addressed?

The city, in its own investigation, has a chance to answer those questions.

"You have failed us,” the women wrote in their June letter to city leaders.

Those officials have a duty and obligation to make sure they don't fail again.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Camera saga in South Bend fire locker room ends but harassment issues linger