ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Department of Natural Resources employee accessed the driving and motor vehicle records of about 5,000 Minnesotans without authorization, the agency said Tuesday.
The employee is no longer employed by the DNR, the agency said in a statement. DNR spokesman Chris Niskanen said he couldn't say whether the employee was fired.
The DNR has asked the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate, but no criminal charges have been filed so far.
The DNR said its own investigation found no indication the data was sold, disclosed to others or used for criminal purposes, but said it's advising the affected people to monitor their credit reports. The agency also said it reported the breach to the three main credit reporting agencies.
Niskanen said he couldn't identify where the employee worked in the DNR. But he said "several hundred" DNR employees have a "business need to know" that gives them access to the data, including people in game and fish licensing; those who investigate game, fish and recreational vehicle violations; and those involved in registering recreational vehicles including ATVs and snowmobiles.
"The agency is implementing additional employee training and looking into ways to monitor access to the data to ensure it doesn't happen again," Commissioner Tom Landwehr said in the statement.
It's illegal to access drivers' license data without a legitimate government purpose, but state audits have found that misuse is common and a number of public employees have faced discipline for it. Several cities have recently agreed to settlements totaling over $1 million with a former Eden Prairie police officer who alleged her private data was improperly viewed by more than 140 officers from various departments.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
Comments (15)
Add commentDNR Corruption, What's New
This is a taxpayer funded organization. Public information. Where are the names of the perpetrators. There is enough corruption in the DNR to fill the pages of the BDD for a month. They can start at the top with Landwhere and Niskanen just for covering up the corruption. Every once in a while they pop one of these little gigs on us just to keep the public happy. There is an ethics investigation going on as we speak, right here in the Brainerd DNR office. There's enough corruption right here in the Brainerd DNR office to keep a judge busy for a long time. And that doesn't even include the rest of the state. It's long overdue for Dayton to clean house at the DNR from the top down and then bring in a private audit/investigation to clean house. Just think of all the pensions that could be forfeited back to the state. It would pay a big chunk of the budget deficit. Much of the corruption is rooted in employees that are ready to retire soon. I have brought this to the attention of DNR leadership but they don't follow up and are more interested in covering up than taking action. Come on Mark Dayton. It's your move now. Let's see how your new spine works.
I think the DNR commissioner
I think the DNR commissioner should be chosen by a panel of citizens with the power to hire AND fire the commissioner and other top jobs within this important agency instead of being a political appointment that can change with every election.
Maybe
Hey fish, you might be onto something there. Needs a little more study but sounds like a good idea.
Double dipping also
While the DNR, like other departments in the state government, submits an operating budget to the legislature for approval, that's not enough for the DNR. Virtually every department within the DNR, has found themselves a little taxpayer slush fund to use also. Remember the Lessard-Sams outdoor fund that was shoved down our throats a couple years back. You know, the 3/8% sales tax for outdoors, arts etc. Well the DNR has applied for and received grants through this fund on an annual basis also. They not only have their own budget to operate under but have been receiving thousands of dollars annually of taxpayers money in addition. Again, this organization is corrupt from the top down and it's time for the sportsmen of this great state to revolt and demand accountability. Stop the corruption and double dipping now. Landwhehr must go now and many others should be criminally charged. Mark Dayton, the ball is in your court.
Here's a good place to start
While the DNR has its own little block on your tax forms for chickadee checkoff, I suggest no one donate to or check this box this year. Maybe we can stir up the pot within. It's an idea.
Well over a year ago
Well over a year ago, I talked to the chair of the Lessard-Sams committee about an abuse case right here in the Brainerd DNR office. He eventually told me he had turned it over to the legislative auditor for action. Well, more than a year later, I haven't heard a word, and the crook is still misusing his position at the DNR today. These are not grunts or groundpounders. These are upper level supervisors that are committing these crimes. As a side note, you can walk into the Brainerd DNR offices 7 days a week and find copies of these posts laying on every ones desk. They are well aware of what we are posting. They watch this BDD site like a hawk. I just don't understand why they are so concerned about what we are posting. LOL. Fire the bums. Another thing worth noting, the DNR Conservation Officers/Game Wardens/ CO's or whatever, don't seem to be involved in any of this corruption. I could be wrong but in all my dealings with the DNR, they stand alone with morals and ethics far above the rest of the DNR.
A word of warning about DNR and your Legislator
Approx 3 yrs ago, while my neighbors and I were having a problem with the DNR in Brainerd, we felt we could get it resolved by getting our State Representative involved. At that time, Larry Howes. It didn't take long and Howes threw us, his constituents, under the bus. He was in bed with the DNR. Three weeks later, Howes received an award from the DNR at one of their banquets. Why do I mention this? Because the DNR is very good at using their influence with legislators. I'm not saying our current legislators could be bought off by the DNR, but if you have any intentions of calling on your legislator for help against the DNR, walk softly and be careful. Some people will do anything for a freezer full of free venison or walleye. I think you get my point.
From front page to archives
Interesting how this article can go from the front page to the archives with one little click of the mouse and no stops in between. In case you haven't noticed in the past, the DNR in Brainerd has a pretty cozy relationship with the BDD. Just about every negative article about the DNR spends minimal time on this website before being pulled into oblivion (archives) by the BDD cyber monkey. What's your excuse this time chief cyber monkey. Do you get paid for doing this. How much venison or walleye did they give you? This article had only 10 comments and was just taking off when you jerked it. People working day shift didn't even get a chance to read it.
Inside the DNR
My sources inside the DNR St. Paul offices tell me the alledged identity theft thief is a Conservation Officer (Game Warden) with the rank of Captain. Further, I have learned from St Paul that the Conservation Officer involved is not from our area, central Minnesota. This is a shame and puts a nasty scar on an otherwise elite group of law enforcement officers. Of the entire staff at the DNR throughout the state, the Conservation Officers stand out as the only above table operation in the entire DNR. It's a shame that one individual can cause such problems for such and elite group. As for the rest of the CO's, keep up the good work. PS: Watch this site for further updates on the DNR ethics investigation currently being conducted in the Brainerd Area DNR offices also, in the near future.
Inside the DNR
My sources inside the DNR St Paul offices tell me the alledged identity theft thief is a Conservation Officer (game warden) with the rank of Captain. Further, I have learned that the conservation officer involved is not from our area, central Minnesota. This is a shame and puts a nasty scar on an otherwise elite group of law enforcement officers. Of the entire staff of the DNR throughout the state, the Conservation Officers stand out as the only above the table operation in the entire DNR. It's a shame that one individual can cause such problems for such an elite group. As for the rest of the CO's, keep up the good work. PS: Watch this site for further updates on the DNR ethics investigation currently be conducted in the Brainerd area DNR offices, also in the near future.
Charlie, working on this issue
I sent in a (fix-it) ticket for our corp. techs to look and figure out why your comments on this article were not included in the 'Recent Comments' block, and to have them reset the cron to a shorter period of time for it to grab new comments.
Thanks Denny
I'm trying something different also