Barnstable Sheriff Employee On Leave After 'Data Breach'

CAPE COD, MA — A Barnstable County Sheriff's Office employee is on leave after they sent a spreadsheet of employee information, including social security numbers and home addresses, to their personal email.

On April 22, 2025, Sheriff Donna D. Buckley was advised of a "data breach," officials said.

"The breach appears to be an intentional act by a Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office employee and not the result of a failure of our digital or cybersecurity safeguards," Buckley said.

Those with the investigation have found so far that the employee sent an email to their personal, non-BCSO email account. The email contained a spreadsheet with the names, home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth and social security numbers of one current and over 100 former Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office employees.

The employee has been placed on administrative leave while the matter is being investigated. Affected employees, as well as the state Attorney General’s Office, are being notified.