Police surf criminal records system

BOSTON, May 6 (UPI) -- Police have used Massachusetts criminal records system to improperly access information on celebrities and high-profile citizens, an audit indicates.

A yearlong review by state Auditor A. Joseph DeNucci found that law enforcement personnel looked up personal information on New England Patriots star Tom Brady 968 times and also conducted repeated searches and queries on other celebrities, including Matt Damon and James Taylor, The Boston Globe reported Wednesday.

DeNucci's report said such unauthorized use could be considered fraud under federal law and disciplinary action could be taken.

"Anyone caught socially surfing that important law enforcement asset should be stripped of their right to use it," Thomas Nee, president of the Boston Patrolman's Association, told the newspaper.

In addition to uncovering unauthorized use, the audit unveiled Tuesday revealed the state's decades-old system as antiquated, highly vulnerable to mistakes and easily accessed by unauthorized users.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is planning to announce changes to the state's Criminal Offender Record Information law on Thursday, the Globe said.