Over the course of the last few months, the number of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty has been on the rise. In recent weeks, it seems as though you can’t go more than a couple of days without seeing that a brother or sister LE officer has been killed needlessly. With this and your own safety in mind, it has never been so important for you to protect your own privacy and that of the rest of your family to ensure you are not the next victim of such senseless violence.
The Numbers Continue to Rise
Over the course of the last few of months, there have been five officers in California killed, five Dallas officers killed, and three in Baton Rouge. Just the other day a Sheriff was gunned down in Tacoma, WA as he knocked on the door of a domestic violence call. While the majority of these officers were on duty and in uniform, they are all part of the rising tide of violence against members of law enforcement across the country.
The presidential election has seen yet another rise in the number of violent actions against police officers, something that is not likely to change in the near future. This means that you need to be more vigilant than ever when it comes to protecting your privacy and that of your family. This is a good time to do a privacy assessment that covers you and your family and all the activities they are involved in, both online and in person.
What to Look At
Since most of us now spend countless hours online, conducting business, sharing photos and information in any number of social media sites, and chatting, this is a good place to start. There are two things you need to consider here, first be sure everyone uses highly secure passwords for all online accounts and changes them on a regular basis.
Next, you need to vet everyone’s online accounts such as Instagram and Facebook to be sure that nowhere does the fact that you are a law enforcement officer get mentioned. Criminals can use even the most basic of personally identifying information to gain access to your home address, phone number, bank accounts, and more. This information can then be used to locate you or your family and cause them harm.
The same applies to school records, while most schools list the parent’s jobs and contact information, you can check in with them to ensure they are using the latest security protocols to protect your personal information. Be sure to let your family know they need to keep the fact you are a law enforcement officer to themselves.
Remember, it is up to you to protect yourself and your family. While you are on duty, you have no choice but to appear in public. But when you are off duty, the last thing you want is for some nutcase to take it into their heads to cause you or your family harm.