Dozens of federal law enforcement officers in Portland have released their personal information online by people who have also encouraged protesters to go to those officers’ homes, authorities said Tuesday.
Deputy Director of Operations for the Federal Protection Service (FPS), Richard Cline, said at a press conference that approximately 38 law enforcement officers had been molested while explaining why officers had had their ID cards removed.
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“We will convert your name to your badge number, as about 38 of our officers out there have been tricked and your personal information has been put online, “he said.
The Department of Homeland Security has previously said that “violent anarchists” in the area have repeatedly disclosed personal information to the public of those officers in Portland, but Cline gave an indication of how widespread the practice is.
Federal police, which includes FPS and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), have been in Portland since the beginning of the month in response to riots that have plagued the city for more than 50 days.
While DHS says agents are in place to defend federal monuments and property like the Hatfield Courthouse, activists and primarily Democratic lawmakers have accused DHS of using a heavy hand, escalating violence, and using “unidentified” officers. to make arrests.
But DHS officials said the officers are identified as law enforcement officers and members of the specific agency they represent. But the name tags were not shown due to continued risk of doxing, they say.
Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan said the actions were endangering law enforcement families, and that the names were being replaced by personal identifiers so that officers could be identified internally.
“That is another thing that is absolutely disgusting,” he said. “Therefore, they not only endanger the lives of officers, but also endanger the lives of their families as [are] publishing their home information and they are suggesting that people go home.
DHS REPORT WARNS PERSONAL INFORMATION OF POLICE OFFICERS IS PUBLISHED IN SOCIAL MEDIA
“So yes, as Acting Commissioner, I have authorized and supported the removal of their names from their uniforms,” he said.
A DHS report released in June warned that the personal information of officers and other law enforcement personnel was being posted on social media amid ongoing protests, and warned of the danger it can cause to enforcement of the law.
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“While doxing does not in itself constitute a threat to law enforcement and their families, doxing may result in the threat of violence by violent opportunists or violent domestic extremists (DVEs), or otherwise prevent DHS staff or law enforcement partners execute their legal mission, “the note says.
He said that police in Kentucky, as well as in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Boston and New York City, had been molested.
