MT. CLEMENS (WWJ) – A Macomb County dispatcher has been accused of illegally using her access to Michigan’s Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) to harass an ex-boyfriend’s female companions.
The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office says 41-year-old Rachael Collins of Roseville has been charged with one count of violating motor vehicle code, false certification/impermissible use of personal information.
The sheriff’s office received a report on Aug. 26 that Collins was potentially violating LEIN policy.
LEIN is a statewide computerized information system that assists the criminal justice community in the performance of its duties by providing and maintaining a computerized filing system of accurate and timely documented criminal justice information readily available to all criminal justice agencies.
Information accessible through LEIN includes driver’s license and vehicle information, as well as wanted or missing person information, National Sex Offender Registry, suspected and known Terrorist, Supervised Release, and many other sensitive records.
LEIN access is restricted to criminal justice agencies or those agencies statutorily granted authorization.
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The sheriff’s office says a man came forward to report he had been dating Collins and after ending the relationship, he said his former partner and a new female friend were now receiving calls from a spoofed phone number.
The man, whose identity was not released, said he believed Collins used her LEIN access as a dispatcher to get personal information on both women.
When authorities investigated, they discovered Collins had indeed done a check on the man’s female friend through LEIN without having a proper law enforcement reason to do so.
Collins was immediately placed on leave.
The investigation was turned over to the Macomb County Prosecutor, who authorized the charge against Collins. She turned herself in to the 41-1 Clinton Township District Court and she was arraigned Tuesday.
Collins was given a $5,000 personal bond and is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 3 for a probable cause conference.
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