Gordon Graham
Category: Law Enforcement
Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. And Today’s Tip is for all my friends in law enforcement. Let’s talk about being proactive about protecting your personal information before someone else weaponizes it.
I’m talking about doxxing. That’s when someone digs up your private details and dumps them online for the world to see. Home address. Phone numbers. Spouse’s name. Kids’ school. The goal? To intimidate, harass, or endanger you and your family.
Let me be clear here. This isn’t just happening to big-city cops. It’s happening everywhere. Urban, suburban, and even rural agencies have reported similar incidents. And it’s not just people posting angry rants. We’ve seen coordinated efforts by extremist groups targeting individual officers after controversial incidents, or just for wearing the badge.
“You protect the public every day. Take steps to protect your own family, too.”
So what can you do? Start by locking down your digital footprint. Conduct an internet search on yourself and see what’s out there. If your home address pops up, there are services that can help remove it. Check your privacy settings on social media. You may think your account is private, but is it really?
Next, keep your personal life and professional life separate online. Use a non-identifying email for personal accounts. Don’t post photos in uniform from your home. Don’t tag your location or share details that can be used against you later. And please don’t friend people you don’t know just because they appear to support law enforcement.
Finally, talk to your agency about a doxxing response plan. If your info gets leaked, who do you call? What resources are in place? Some agencies even help scrub your data from public sites.
Remember, this isn’t about paranoia. It’s about preparedness. You protect the public every day. Take steps to protect your own family, too.
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Until next time, Gordon Graham signing off.
