Cop Steals Identities from School

As if a retired cop fencing stolen identities isn't bad enough, here's the story of a Pam Beach police officer that used law enforcement databases to steal victims' identities. From the Palm Beach Post:

"By all accounts it was a jaw dropping violation of public trust: a former officer with the Palm Beach County School District Police, Jonathan E. Kelly, directed a scheme to steal valuables from cars that he sold online as well as identities of staff and students at Olympic Heights High School."

Renée Manwaring, a history teacher at Olympic Heights High School, read the following statement during the trial:

"Servant of the people? Officer of the law? To serve and protect? Blah, blah, blah," said Manwaring. "You made a mockery... of the people who worked alongside you, in a school no less...John, you victimized kids with a smile on your face, a badge on your chest and a gun on your side."

The (now former) officer, Jonathan E. Kelly, pled guilty to more than 20 fraud and theft charges and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

While there's not much that can be done to protect against good cops gone bad, here are ten steps you can take to minimize your risk of identity theft.