What Do the Leaked First Responder Training Docs Reveal?

Hackers stole documents this week from the Texas-based Lexipol private company, which produces training manuals and guidelines for first responders.

Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoSecrets), a nonprofit group hosting data leaks, received about 8,543 files, including manuals for policy, training, and procedures, from a group calling itself “the pupgirl hacker polycule.” These included manuals on police department policies, fire department training and procedures, and narcotics unit procedures. The group also has customer records that include private information like addresses and passwords.

An unidentified member of the hacking group told the Daily Dot in a statement that there aren’t “enough hacks against the police” when asked why it went after Lexipol.

The hacker stated, “We took matters into our paws.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, Lexipol hadn’t responded to a comment request.

In its article about the leak, DDoSecrets noted that “Lexipol retains the copyright to all manuals it creates, even though its work is public.” It also stated, “There’s little transparency in how decisions are taken to draft their policies which have a large influence on police in the United States.”

Lexipol was described by the Texas Law Review as “a dominant influence in police policymaking throughout the country.” It offers an invaluable service, especially for smaller law enforcement agencies who lack the resources to develop and update their policies.”

The nonprofit notes that the company is also under fire for its opposition to police reform efforts and that some of its policies are being challenged in court as contributing toward racial profile.