Mathew Silverman, the National President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association® (FLEOA®), issued a press release this week regarding the media and their identification of federal officers.
According to Silverman, there has been an "increasing trend" in media outlets disclosing the names of members of federal law enforcement agencies during their reporting in recent months. "While we understand the press's role in providing transparency and accountability," Silverman said, "we must also balance these principles with the safety and security of our officers."
The concern is for the safety of the agents and their families when names of agents involved in specific incidents are released. Bad actors may take the names and find information on their home addresses, names of their family members, their schedules, etc. This is known as "doxxing" and can of course lead to the potential risk of harm for the agents and their families.
Silverman told Law Enforcement Today that some of the names of Secret Service agents involved in the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania were leaked to the press, causing security concerns.
During the 2020 riots, local police agencies saw this type of doxxing, specifically in cities like Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Families were forced to take safety measures such as adding security gates and cameras to their homes during that time. In extreme cases, a couple of families known to LET were even forced to move.
These are ostensibly the types of scenarios that Silverman is attempting to avoid.
"We kindly request that all media outlets respect the privacy and safety of our officers by refraining from publishing their names in the press," the release continued. "We believe that this measure will not compromise the transparency and accountability that we all strive for, but rather, it will enhance the safety and security of those who risk their lives daily to protect our communities."
According to Silverman, there has been an "increasing trend" in media outlets disclosing the names of members of federal law enforcement agencies during their reporting in recent months. "While we understand the press's role in providing transparency and accountability," Silverman said, "we must also balance these principles with the safety and security of our officers."
The concern is for the safety of the agents and their families when names of agents involved in specific incidents are released. Bad actors may take the names and find information on their home addresses, names of their family members, their schedules, etc. This is known as "doxxing" and can of course lead to the potential risk of harm for the agents and their families.
Silverman told Law Enforcement Today that some of the names of Secret Service agents involved in the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania were leaked to the press, causing security concerns.
During the 2020 riots, local police agencies saw this type of doxxing, specifically in cities like Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Families were forced to take safety measures such as adding security gates and cameras to their homes during that time. In extreme cases, a couple of families known to LET were even forced to move.
These are ostensibly the types of scenarios that Silverman is attempting to avoid.
"We kindly request that all media outlets respect the privacy and safety of our officers by refraining from publishing their names in the press," the release continued. "We believe that this measure will not compromise the transparency and accountability that we all strive for, but rather, it will enhance the safety and security of those who risk their lives daily to protect our communities."
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Comments
2024-08-19T10:25-0400 | Comment by: G
"While we understand the press's role in providing transparency and accountability," Silverman said, "we must also balance these principles with the safety and security of our officers." I agree. Should apply to all LEO's (federal, state, local). Maybe combine efforts in this regard with ALL LEO's. Strength in numbers.