Mass. Cops Caught Snooping On Celebrities

Report Finds Police Improperly Accessed Files; Tom Brady's Was Searched 968 Times

(CBS)  Being a celebrity in Boston has never been easy, but law enforcement officials apparently have gone that extra mile to invade the personal lives of the city's stars.

According to a report in Wednesday's Boston Globe, police from across the state improperly accessed a criminal database to gather information from high-profile citizens.

The most popular celebrity search appears to be Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who, the investigation notes, had his file searched 968 times, with one query seeking to know if he'd ever purchased a gun.

Other stars mentioned in the article include actor Matt Damon, singer James Taylor and Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce.

A crackdown on the offending authorities may soon be at hand.
The state's auditor, A. Joseph DeNucci, says the system is flawed and is often used by employees "without any apparent work-related justification."
DeNucci added that "disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal and/or criminal prosecution" could occur.

[mike18881]

I couldnt believe it either until I saw it on the news. The law maker interviewed said the law make it look like they're being treated special.

[cheaboyz]

does anyone know if tom brady has a facebook i could snoop around too? hahaha

[rank_n_file]

It's time people started to discern a pattern here. This is the pattern. The rich, the famous, the politically powerful, and the government, are encouraged by government to break the law, because the laws are not enforced, and the penalties for a violation are not severe. As a consequence, there are absolutely no deterrents whatsoever, to discourage or punish crime committed by these people. Each and every time a crime is committed by these entities, the media makes a big flap about it, then everyone forgets about it, and absolutely nothing whatsoever is ever done to punish the policlly well-connect people who committed the crime. That translates as an incentive for these people to commit crimes, because they can do so with total, guaranteed immunity. That is the pattern. It has been the twisted, dimented pattern for as long as anyone can remember. And all signs indicate that this always will be the pattern because there are absolutely no movement by anyone to change the way it has always been. Hence, Scooter Libby, and the Bush Regime Torture perpetrators are granted total, unconditional, guaranteed community by the Obama administration. The message is clear. "If you are the rich, the famous, the politically powerful, or the government, We've the government, Wants you to know that you make commit any crime you please, with total immunity, because we will never prosecute you. And if we ever do have to prosecute you, merely for 'public show' and pretense, we will make sure that the penalties are trivial, with absolutely no teeth in them, so that no significant harm will come to you just because you broke a few laws." That is the sick, dimented, twisted message that this government, and all governments from time immemorial, have conveyed to the general population for as long as anyone can remember. See the pattern?

[kansas1946]

LOL. Why did these cops do that. Because they could. Of course, there is nothing they could do with any information they ran across. I hate all of this snooping, but I think employees anywhere if they have access to private celebrity info probably snoop. It would be really hard not to!

[john_russell]

...hope he doesn't waterboard you.But, if he does,don't worry.I hear that it's not as though he was going to torture you.

[john_russell]

wtcmedic911,
Since you deem it necessary to criticize President Obama for the actions of Mass. cops,perhaps you'd like Bush's way better .
I hear that he,through the NSA's warrant less wire-tap program wants to monitor your telephone communications,e-mail and other activities.Put you on airlines watch list and possibly lock you up indefinitely ,without charges, as an 'enemy combatant.

[mike18881]

I heard yesterday that in Denver, if a lawmaker gets pulled over for drunk driveing, all the Denver PD can do is find him a ride, park and lock up his car. Can you believe that?

[gunownerdan]

I hope Tom Brady has a gun because it seems like one day he is going to need it!

[gunownerdan]

"ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY"

[elAlAkbar]

Power Corrupts. Absolutely.

In this way even the high and mighty will become prey to the upstart lackeys, who snivelingly seek to replace the high and mighty.

the cycle will turn the mighty will fall ... ad infinitum

[fleabag75]

To "wtcmedic911",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, you, my friend, are a flaming idiot. That guys file has been looked at 968 times. 968 times! What in the name of God does that have to do with Obama???? Sir, today you receive the crown for being "Idiot of the Day". Wear it proudly.

[Hermit1948]

1984. Centralized data on everyone. And good, old-fashioned, honest law enforcement types have access to it. Nice. I feel so safe in my own country now.

[wtcmedic911]

hmmm. im so glad we are becoming a centralized goverment under obama. meaning electronic data bases-medical and on and on... we can trust the goverment!!! they are our friends, our nanny... wake up dems to whats going on and Obama is only making the data collection started under clinton then the bushes even larger.

[truth_police]

It's time people started to discern a pattern here. The rich, the famous, the politically powerful, and the government, are encouraged by government to break the law, because the laws are not enforced, and the penalties for a violation are not severe for these people. As a consequence, there are absolutely no deterrents whatsoever, to discourage or punish crime committed by these people. Each and every time a crime is committed by these entities, the media makes a big flap about it, then everyone forgets about it, and absolutely nothing whatsoever is ever done to punish these bluebloods. That translates as an incentive for these people to commit crimes, because they can do so with total, guaranteed immunity. This has been the twisted, dimented pattern for as long as anyone can remember. And all signs indicate that this always will be the pattern because there are absolutely no deterrents. Hence, Scooter Libby, and the Bush Regime Torture perpetrators are granted total, unconditional, guaranteed immunity by Obama (what a good sport). The message is clear. "If you are the rich, the famous, the politically powerful, or the government, We the government, want you to know that you bluebloods may commit any crime you please, with total immunity, because we will never prosecute you. And if we ever do have to prosecute you, merely for public show and pretense, we will make sure that the penalties are trivial, with absolutely no teeth in them, so that no significant harm will come to you just because you broke a few laws." That is the message that this government, and all governments from time immemorial, have conveyed to the general population for as long as anyone can remember. See the pattern?

[mjlewis6]

This is the very reason we have to hold police accountable for their actions which are UNRELATED to any criminal investigation/complaint/legal proceeding. The whole culture of MISUSE of police power by district attorneys and judges, as well as the police themselves....should be prosecuted when those same officials FAIL to observe the right to privacy. I refer to both district attorneys and judges before whose courts such cases should come....EVERYONE loses their job for failure to prosecute as well as the policeman for violating privacy rights. Misuse of the computer is the same as a PEEPHOLE into the home...

[DefendLiberty]

Enough! Being in the government (from local to federal) is not a free pass to break the law. It matters not whether you had "good intentions" or bad. The law is the law. Otherwise we are no longer the USA, we are a fiefdom where the government simply does as it sees fit. That is called "dictatorship".

[observer2020]

"Faith" in police? Isn't that a contradiction in terms? Certainly is with me. The word "cops" and "honest" do not belong in the same sentence. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and the cops live up to that from second to second.

[hologram5]

Time to punish those in power that do wrong. I am sick to death of people in power abusing said power. Time to show the general populous that our faith is well placed.