Posted on 10/24/2008 7:44:25 AM PDT by Crapgame
Newspaper requests information on all public employees for publication.
In my mind, as a financial crimes guy, this exposes our officers to a huge identity theft risk. Why would the newspaper be seeking officer specific information for the entire department in order to publish it on the internet?
I find it particularly ironic that the person pushing this on behalf of the local leftwing rag has repeatedly stated that we have to provide the information since we "feed at the public trough". I never knew the Gazette Journal cared about the public trough before.
In any event if any of you have any insight into why a newspaper would be pushing to obtain this information and why they would intend to publish it on the internet of all places I would appreciate the enlightenment. With so many sites like zabasearch out there the release of this information seems to be an invitation to commit fraud and identity theft crimes against our public employees.
I appreciate any suggestions or insight and please let's not turn this into a cop-bashing or public employee bashing thread.
Best Regards,
Crapgame
Time to start publishing the names and addresses of “duh” media ... for public education of course.
Simple: Respond with a two word sentence.
The first word starts with the letter F.
The Des Moines Register routinely publishes the names and salaries of every state employee but does not list addresses.
HHmmmmm...it IS public information....I do not understand how posting their salary will pose a threat....soc sec #, address, bank, etc...YES....but, salary?
Publishing home addresses steps over the line from public information to private intrusion. I’d get an attorney involved and try to put a stop to it.
I’m a public employee with name, department and salary online. It’s the name of the game for public employees.
That said, I don’t see where your benefits package is anyone’s business, nor would I release my address/phone/SSN in connection with my salary info.
If it includes home addresses I AGREE....but, I didn’t see that as part of the request.
That’s next.
“Yesterday our agency was asked, along with every other public agency in Northern Nevada to provide names, job titles, gross and net salaries and benefit package information to the local newspaper.”
As long as personal information is not included, I see no problem. People have a right to know where and how their money is spent on public affairs.
First of all I appreciate all of the responses so far. I agree that posting the job title and salary is not a problem. My problem is associating specific employees with their income. It is too easy today to obtain addresses once you have a name and a city or area. Combine that with income range accessibility of other documents or databases where DOB’s and SSN’s are available and fraud or identity theft becomes an enormous risk. I investigate this stuff every day so I’m not prying panic here.
I understand that when I signed on for law enforcement that I accepted a certain amount of transparency but publishing my name, gross and net income and job title on an internet forum that will not be secure seems to be beyond reasonable. Again I welcome all comments, we are going to seek injunctive relief but are examining other options as well.
“My problem is associating specific employees with their income. It is too easy today to obtain addresses once you have a name and a city or area. Combine that with income range accessibility of other documents or databases where DOB’s and SSN’s are available and fraud or identity theft becomes an enormous risk.”
Since these people are public employees, aren’t their names and job titles already known? I don’t really see how their risk of fraud or identity theft increases simply by publishing how much public money is spent on each public employee.
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