A Bangor police officer sent usernames and passwords for numerous department accounts to local media organizations Monday afternoon.
Sgt. Jason McAmbley sent the email at 12:48 p.m. It went to reporters at the Bangor Daily News, Portland Press Herald, Maine Public and The Maine Wire. The police public information officer also sent it to Bangor’s city manager and spokesperson.
The passwords were shared unintentionally and are in the process of being changed, McAmbley told the BDN. He said he accidentally sent the information while trying to share it with the person taking over his job.
McAmbley said he’s returning to patrol and declined to say who is replacing him.
The information provided access to multiple police department social media accounts and other department programs. The log in for tip411, an anonymous tip platform, was among the passwords shared.
Sharing such information could allow people outside of the department to post misinformation on official police channels. The email shows a vulnerability in the department’s protocols and the potential for confidential information to be shared.
The email also contained a three-page document that outlines information on how to send news releases.
The listserv email for all Bangor officers should be used in a “blind cc so the cops here can know what’s going on and the media can’t get their email,” the document said.
Officers who need access to Facebook must go through “Cotton,” according to the email. That refers to Tim Cotton, a longtime Bangor officer who retired in 2022.
