Am I right or wrong for doing this?

Question

in my job I have access to customer information as in phone #, address, DOB, DL # etc. My friends are police and they will ask me for info to aid in catching these crooks. I dont get anything, not money or favors, just the satisfaction of knowing a dirtbag is off of the street. these are not common people these are murders, robbers, gang bangers, theives and other dirt bags...

what do you think of this? I could get fired for doing this, but I have a family and want to make the world( at least my town) a safer place. If I turn a blind Eye I or anyone could be the next victim.
The info I have supplied has been the break in some very major cases.


i posted this in the answers civic arena and most of the answers were negative. what do you think??

you people need to read the newspaper crime section. listen to tv and radio news about crime, just search answers for crime...you people live in a false world. crime will find you and affect you.

can any of you who answered negatively answer this back and tell me of a time you or someone near you has been struck by crime...do you still feel the same way?

Answer 1

You, sir, are doing the right thing. You must think of the greater good. Would you rather see 9 murderers walking the streets killing folks or see 9 in jail and one guy who turned out innocent? God shall judge all in the end but it is not those criminals' choice when our end shall be. So do not cease, do not stop, do not equivocate (good word, yes?). Fight on for justice and truth. Don't let these naysayers disway you from what is right. I know you know you're right.

Answer 2

I'm so totally confused, I don't even know where to start. You have access to CUSTOMER information like DOB and DL#'s, etc, that police normally have access to through other means? But they come to you for it? So obviously there is something specific to these "customers" that they need to know besides that other stuff, because they can get that faster than anyone else. If it is "customer" information, they should be getting it through a warrant as it is privately held information that usually isn't disclosed unless for law enforcement purposes, etc.

What confuses me most about this is that police around the world, even in some far away banana republic, usually have access to ALL the information they need, and access to information most of us don't even know about. The fact that they would come to you for common information is absolutely mind boggling, especially when a police officer can request any information for investigative purposes, whether it is through a warrant or voluntarily provided.

I wish I could give you a straight answer about whether this is right or wrong, but I don't even know what you are actually doing, let along whether it's right or not. Can you maybe repost elsewhere and clarify this?

Answer 3

While I agree that it's great to get murderers and robbers and such off the streets, I'm not sure that it's a smart move to give out personal information of customers or employees of the place you are working. If you can afford to lose your job, then it's your choice to make. Were I in the same situation, would I do the same thing? Probably. But there would have to be a very good reason for an officer to get that information from me.

Answer 4

Keep it up!!! I think what you are doing is a good thing. People who have committed these crimes need to be taken off the streets. It only makes the world a better place to live in. I would be doing the same thing if I was in your situation. You are probably saving lives so this is a great thing. You are getting the scum off the streets. Way to go!!

"The end justifies the means"
-Machiavelli

Answer 5

This is illegal. Any officer asking you to do this is breaking the law himself. AND YES I HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF A SERIOUS CRIME AND SO HAS OTHER MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY. You are not a vigilante or a super hero. You also do not know for sure what is being done with this information since your "cop friends" obviously are breaking the laws themselves. I'd suggest if you are that against crime you not commit any more yourself.

Answer 6

It is very noble, but watch out for your own safety. Plus keep in mind there are privacy laws which normally police need a warrant in order to get such information from a place of busines. These privacy laws which you are in violation of. Dirt bags or not it can cost you your job, if not more.

Good luck walking a fine line.

Answer 7

Honestly, this shouldn't be going through you. The police must have ways to get this information, and it could be a liability to you. If the information is really needed from your company, it should be going through the top and they should be working with the police.

You're doing what you think is right, the biggest problem for me is that it could come up and bite you in the butt. Thanks, though, for making us all a little safer.

Answer 8

Here's what I don't understand: State vehicle registries have all the same kinds of information you have access to. Police can obtain warrants for the information you have access to. There are a myriad of avenues for police to get information on people without resorting to asking a buddy.

Why are they asking you? Are you fishing for compliments?

Answer 9

Your job is on the line. Think about your family. If you get fired will the people your helping out get you a job? I'm not being rude in any way but I think you should mind your on business ESPECIALLY if your not getting paid. Leave all the investigating to the police since their the ones who get paid not to mention kudos.

Answer 10

You are doing right in the wrong way. There is a proper procedure for your police friends to obtain the information they require. You are opening yourself and your company up to a HUGE law suit if any of the people involved find out their information was released without due process.

CYA is the rule for the day. If I knew you were releasing my info, I'd sue you; and I'm not one of those sue happy fools.