Two DeKalb County police officers were arrested Thursday and accused of selling accident reports to third parties for profit, authorities said.
Nikko McClinton and Ronald Anderson, both nine-year veterans of the department, were charged with computer theft and violating their oath of office, DeKalb police spokeswoman Michaela Vincent said in a news release.
McClinton also faces one count of bribery, jail records show.
The criminal investigation was launched after a DeKalb police officer learned of the alleged scheme and alerted the department’s Criminal Investigation Division, Vincent said.
That investigation revealed the two officers “accessed and sold thousands of motor vehicle accident reports,” authorities said. The police reports were allegedly sold to “illegal runners” who would solicit clients involved in the crashes and profit off their wrecks.
In 2014, Georgia's General Assembly passed a bill prohibiting the solicitation or sale of crash information. DeKalb police did not say exactly how many police reports the officers allegedly sold or whether they ended up in the hands of injury lawyers or medical providers.
“The DeKalb County Police Department will not tolerate officer misconduct and will take proper action to safeguard the privacy of our citizens and enforce the law,” newly hired DeKalb County Police Chief Mirtha Ramos said in a statement.
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McClinton and Anderson have been placed on administrative leave with pay pending their disciplinary action, authorities said. They remain held at the DeKalb County Jail without bond.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact DeKalb detectives at 770-724-7837.
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