A very disturbing photo was recently sent to the LAPPL showing stacks of document boxes in the back hallway near the employee main entrance of Northeast Station. Upon closer examination, our surprise turned to outrage.

The boxes contained confidential personnel complaints against LAPD officers, including names, serial numbers and work locations, in an area fully accessible to all employees! Unfortunately, this shocking discovery is not an isolated case. It is just the latest example of the Department not exercising good judgment and appropriate safeguards in the handling and storing of confidential and sensitive information. This is why protecting officer privacy is a top priority of the League and will continue to be.

We have fought hard in recent years to ensure that the personnel information of officers remains private. The "Kodak moment" at Northeast is another pointed reminder of what we have been saying for several years: Confidential information about officers is not secure. It is only a matter of time before the financial information provided by officers in sensitive assignments will be compromised if we don’t take a strong stand.

Please continue to notify the League whenever you spot breaches in the handling of confidential material by the Department.

Files in hallway of Parker Center in 2007