Social Security nos. posted on police log

Red-faced Littleton police brass have issued an apology to 110 people who had their Social Security numbers and other personal information posted online — for 10 days — on the department’s police log before the screw-up was discovered.

“It was a human error,” Police Chief John M. Kelly told the Herald, adding the department has altered its procedures to prevent a similar blunder from happening again.

“We’ve been doing (the online log) for eight years. This is the first time anything like this has happened.”

Kelly blamed the mistake on “one of my employees” — he declined to say if the person was an officer or civilian — who failed to check a box on a software program that automatically blocks the Social Security numbers of those who appear in the log.

The mistake affected 110 people who had contact with Littleton police during the week of Jan. 7 to Jan. 13. The log was posted Jan. 14 and remained up until Jan. 24.

While the log includes the names, dates of birth, addresses and charges of those arrested, it normally never includes Social Security numbers, the chief said.

He said the bungle was compounded by the log’s listing of the names, dates of birth, addresses and Social Security numbers of people involved in minor traffic stops and medical calls — incidents that are typically noted without identifying the individuals or where they live.

He said during the 10-day span, 310 people logged onto the department’s website but only about 50 clicked on the log.

The chief said his officers yesterday mailed letters to 35 people who they were unable to reach by phone or in person to explain the mishap and provide them with an identity theft kit.

“I extend my sincere apologies to you for the discomfort this error has caused and I will do everything I can to assist those adversely affected by it,” the chief wrote in the letter.