Officers Find Papers That Were Stolen A Year Ago With Names, Addresses and Work Assignments
By Tom Alex, Des Moines Register (Iowa)
Des Moines police say they made a startling discovery last week when they raided a storage unit to search for alleged bomb-making material: a complete list of their names, home addresses, telephone numbers and work assignments.
The news could be unnerving for some officers, especially those who work undercover, officials said Friday.
Police hope to track down how the roster was acquired, and find copies that reportedly are circulating.
“We know the materials were stolen from an officer’s car about a year ago,” Sgt. John Meeker said.
Police on Nov. 24 charged Robert Rokitnicki, 36, of 1700 E. Court Ave. with numerous criminal counts connected to what police described as bomb-making material in a storage building where he lived.
He allegedly possessed homemade “cricket bombs,” fashioned from small metal canisters, gunpowder and fuses. Also found, police said, was an undisclosed amount of material that could be used to make more of the bombs.
Rokitnicki is in the Polk County Jail on $252,000 bond.
He has not been charged in connection with the police documents. Meeker said it is not illegal to possess the information, unless it was stolen. Meeker said there is no proof Rokitnicki took them. In fact, police don’t believe he did.
Sgt. Richard Hickle said the pilfered information is unsettling, even though some officers are listed in the telephone book and others drive squad cars home.
“Your neighbors know you are a police officer, and you don’t worry about them,” he said. “If you worry about anybody, it might be the (suspect) you arrested a couple of years ago.”