Security incident targeted computer network used by STL Area Police

ST. LOUIS – Police sources tell FOX 2 a computer information network they regularly use is temporarily unavailable. A spokesperson for the Regional Justice Information System (REJIS) confirmed that there had been a security incident.

According to an agency spokesperson, REJIS has been working to limit any damage and is not aware of any confidential information being seized or released.

Police sources tell FOX 2 the system is used to write reports and allows officers to see if a person is wanted for a crime. Departments in St. Louis City and St. Louis County declined to comment on how the departments are adapting.

“I don’t know why anyone would want to hack into the system other than to potentially wreak havoc,” said Joel Schwartz, a prominent St. Louis defense attorney.

He said police can hold someone for 24 hours while investigators determine whether there are any outstanding warrants. Schwartz said if police don’t have access to the system to verify that information, it could result in someone being released even though they could be wanted for a serious crime.

“It certainly has the potential to cause some serious problems,” Schwartz said.

The security incident has involved some court cases in the Kansas City area.

A spokesperson for the FBI’s St. Louis office told FOX 2 the agency had no information about the incident.

Schwartz said the potential hack underscores the need to ensure computer systems in areas such as the criminal justice system, the health care system and the banking system are secure.

“If it’s not safe, then we’re not safe in anything we do,” Schwartz said.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page shared more information about the attack during Tuesday night’s council meeting. He said the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri Department of Public Safety are investigating.

Page said as a precaution, the county shut down several computer systems used to retrieve court information, process people in jail and access certain court information. He said the county’s 911 system was not affected.

The county executive said he would call on the county council to invest more money in cybersecurity. The district conducted a cybersecurity audit earlier this year.