By Police1 Staff
CINCINNATI — Hacktivist group Anonymous Anon Verdict announced the release of 52 Cincinnati officers’ personal information in a video posted Sunday, Cincinnati.com reported.
Lt. Steve Saunders told the publication the agency is investigating the situation and evaluating if risks to officers exist. Saunders said most of the information could have been obtained through social media or public records, so police are investigating whether an actual breach of information had taken place.
In a YouTube video, hackers said the data dump was in response to the death of a suspect fatally shot by officers last week after he reached for a replica gun.
“Well we have a message to not only the Cincinnati Police Department but to every law enforcement officer,” the group said in the video. “When you murder a human being when you have other choices of containing your suspect available we will make your officers’ information public record. We will data dump as many officers as we see fit for each situation.”
The personal data included names, ages, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and social media accounts.
One of two links to the leaked information was not working as of Wednesday.
Sgt. Dan Hils, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 69, told the publication although there is concern, it’s important not to overreact.
“There are some people who are very anti-police – so that’s concerning,” Hils said. “For myself, personally, I’m not going to let myself lose any sleep over this fringe group.”
The group threatened to release more information in the future if “similar situations occur.”