Privacy LAWS Also Violated!
5thEstate.com Exclusive Must Credit

January 31, 2007

Go to our friend's @ ColumbiaPaOnline.com and read the forum about this story!

In what will likely cost a Columbia cop is job, a Boro Cop computer was pilfered from the boro and then carelessly given to the public. Also in violation of the law, gruesome crime scene photos, explicit Child Sexual Assault documents as well as software to access both the state and county Criminal computers was on the vintage Dell computer! This access to the data is what the State's Attorney General is probing Lancaster Newspapers. In addition to possibly being in trouble criminally, Sgt Bill Meyers of the Columbia boro police is in hot water civilly for breaching possibly hundreds of people’s privacy!

Included in the thousands of stabbings, shooting and accidents pictures, were two sets of nude pictures. Both sets were of local women, one set was more “casual” while the other was very explicit. All pictures were taken by the same make and model camera of all the other criminal investigation photos!

(Editor's note: We have printed a bloody scene but have not printed any photos of the many victims that were available on the computer to protect their privacy. Additionally, we have identified the women in the nude pictures but are protecting their privacy by not publishing their names or images. However we feel the issue of such images on the public's computer should be addressed by Columbia Boro and this issue should be made known publically.)

According to Police Chief Joseph F. Greenya all “old” computers should be in the basement of the boro hall! The Chief was shown the unlisted phone numbers and roster of his force along with a few bloody crime scene photos and soon became convinced that a police boro computer had fallen into the hands of the public! Chief Greenya brought 5thEstate.com editor to his office to show that his “old” computer was still stored on the floor in his office. But the Columbia boro could be in trouble because of the actions of Sgt. Meyers in revealing the hundreds and hundreds of photos, reports and other privileged information.

The Pennsylvania Criminal History Reporting demands that everything in an investigation is not to be transmitted to anyone except those in law enforcement or under a court order.

(f) Security requirements.--Every criminal justice agency collecting, storing or disseminating intelligence information, investigative information or treatment information shall insure the confidentiality and security of such information…

What could happen? According to the act, they could be sued for up to $10,000 per occasion!

Lancaster County District Attorney launched a probe into the stolen cop computer today.