Eden Prairie police probe officers' private database access

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) - Eden Prairie police are conducting an internal investigation to determine whether a state database of private information was inappropriately accessed.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety routinely audits its Driver and Vehicle Services database and asked the Eden Prairie Police Department to investigate whether the database was misused.

Officers need a legal reason to access the private data. KSTP-TV reports 12 officers are under investigation for illegally accessing private information of so-called celebrities. The station says the individuals whose private information may have been accessed are unknown.

Eden Prairie police say administrators will take appropriate action if its determined there was any misuse of the database.

Information from: KSTP-TV, http://www.kstp.com

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.