Hundreds of LA police officers’ info exposed in data breach

City officials announced that personal information about Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers was leaked in a recent data breach.  

Mayor Eric Garcetti said the city discovered the breach on July 25 and is investigating the situation. 

“We take the protection of personal data very seriously, and the City has informed the individuals who may have been affected. The City’s Information Technology Agency has added additional layers of security to guard against future events of this kind,” Garcetti said in a statement Monday. 

{mosads}The mayor said the breach involved “limited information” about city job applicants in a database that is no longer used by the personnel department.

A suspected hacker claims to have stolen the personal information of about 2,500 officers, trainees and recruits as well as about 17,500 police officer applicants, NBC News Los Angeles reports. 

NBC News reported the Information Technology Agency said it was contacted last week by someone who claimed to have accessed and downloaded the data, and offered examples as proof. 

The city’s technology agency was not immediately available for comment when contacted by The Hill. 

NBC reports messages sent to officers said compromised data includes officers’ names, dates of birth, parts of their social security numbers and emails and passwords they set up when applying for jobs. Officers were notified to monitor personal financial accounts and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. 

In a statement, the LAPD said it is working with city partners to understand the extent of the data breach and taking steps to further ensure the department’s data is protected. 

In a statement issued to USA Today, the LAPD said it is working to ensure its data is protected from further breaches and will update those affected during the investigation. 

“The employees and individuals who may have been affected by this incident have been notified and we will continue to update them as we progress through this investigation. Data security is paramount at the Los Angeles Police Department and we are committed to protecting the privacy of anyone who is associated with our agency,” the department said.