Formal complaint: Privacy and security of records
Complainant alleges that officer accessed secure personal records about civilians and allowed a non-police employee to access secure records for personal use. Office of Police Oversight recommend this allegation receive an A classification.
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AUSTIN
OFFICE OF
NOTICE OF FORMAL
POLICE OVERSIGHT
FOUNDED
COMPLAINT
May 13, 2019
ICMS: 2019-0368
Date of Complaint: April 17, 2019
Complaint: The Office of Police Oversight received a complaint from [Redacted] alleging that
Officer [Redacted], , "is abusing his ability to be able to look up civilian information through the
confidential program that the police force uses to obtain information about individual personal records.
Your police officer is gathering the information and passing it on to a civilian friend. Also, the civilian
was on a ride along with the officer and was looking up information himself about another party. We are
aware that your program is capable of providing history and time- stamped of certain searches through
your database. I feel like this officer is using his stature to use the government, State and tax payers'
resources to benefit providing information to a civilian for non-official use from the State. I hope that this
matter is taken seriously and addressed with the most urgency."
Additional information: [Redacted] has provided the OPO with the names of the individuals she
believes Officer [Redacted] researched.
Administrative Policy to Review: Based on the review of documentation related to this case including;
NCIC/TCIC Off-Line, Police Observer SharePoint, and Computer/MDC searches, it is recommended that
the following Administrative Policies be reviewed:
116 Security and Release
116.7 Privacy and Security of Records
Austin Police Department employees shall not access, view, distribute, or allow anyone
else to access, view, or distribute any hard copy or electronic record, file, or report, except
in accordance with Department orders and with a legitimate law enforcement or business
purpose, or as otherwise permissible by law.
All reports including, but not limited to, initial, supplemental, follow-up, evidence and
property reports, shall be maintained in a secure manner accessible only to authorized
personnel.
The OPO is permitted to make a preliminary recommendation on the classification of
administrative cases. The OPO recommends that this allegation receive an A classification.