Hackers have leaked a substantial amount of data from Lexipol, a Texas-based company that provides policy manuals, training bulletins, and consulting services for first responders. The data breach involved over 8,500 files, including training materials, procedural guides, and customer records containing sensitive information such as usernames, hashed passwords, physical addresses, and phone numbers. These files belong to various agencies, including police and fire departments, sheriff’s offices, and narcotics units. The leak was attributed to a group called “the puppygirl hacker polycule,” who shared the data with DDoSecrets, a nonprofit collective that hosts data leaks.
Lexipol, known for its customized policy manuals, has faced criticism for its approach to police policies, particularly its resistance to police reform. The manuals it creates are tailored to meet the specific legal requirements and needs of law enforcement agencies. However, the company’s influence on public policing policies across the U.S. has raised concerns. Critics argue that Lexipol’s centralized and standardized approach to policy creation may not reflect the unique needs of local communities. Some departments have resisted publishing their policy manuals, while others, like the Orville Police Department in Ohio, have kept their manuals private.
The leaked documents revealed that Lexipol’s manuals cover a wide range of issues, from the use of force and non-lethal alternatives to protocols for high-speed chases. Despite being a private company, Lexipol’s widespread adoption of its manuals in various departments has led to debates about its impact on policing practices. Civil liberties groups have criticized the company’s involvement in crafting policies that some claim give officers too much discretion in use-of-force situations, potentially contributing to racial profiling and unjust detentions.
In particular, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has urged Lexipol to remove guidelines that could lead to discriminatory practices.
The breach has also brought attention to Lexipol’s refusal to include police reform measures in its manuals. Notably, its policies have been criticized for excluding de-escalation techniques and prohibiting chokeholds, which have been central to recent calls for police reform. The hacker group behind the leak, motivated by a desire to target police-related entities, expressed their frustration with the lack of sufficient actions against police organizations. Despite Lexipol’s significant influence in the realm of law enforcement policy, the company has not yet responded to requests for comment on the breach.
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