Law enforcement agencies across California misused sensitive criminal justice databases more than 7,000 times in 2023, with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LACSD) accounting for the vast majority of violations, according to state records.
The LACSD committed 6,789 violations by improperly using the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) to conduct background checks for concealed carry firearm permits - an explicitly prohibited use of the system.
CLETS provides officers access to various databases containing sensitive information, including Department of Motor Vehicles records and national crime data. Law enforcement agencies must report any misuse investigations and resulting disciplinary actions to the California Department of Justice.
The consequences of database abuse in 2023 were substantial:
- 24 officers received suspensions
- 6 officers resigned
- 9 officers were terminated
Beyond the LACSD violations, other concerning cases emerged across the state. Some officers allegedly accessed the system for personal vendettas, while others shared confidential information with unauthorized individuals.
Between 2019-2023, California documented:
- 761 investigations resulting in 7,635 violations
- 55 officer suspensions
- 50 resignations
- 42 terminations
- 7 criminal convictions (6 misdemeanors, 1 felony)
Notable cases included a Redding Police officer charged with misdemeanors for allegedly using the database to target his fiancée's ex-husband, and a Madera Police officer who resigned and pleaded guilty to sharing protected information.
While CLETS is one of few systems requiring mandatory reporting of misuse, experts suggest similar abuse likely occurs in other law enforcement databases that lack such oversight, including facial recognition and license plate reader systems.
The California Department of Justice expects agencies to report their 2024 violations by February 1, though complete data typically takes several additional months to compile.