I always feel like somebody's watching me.

The Los Angeles Times today reminds us of the dangers of retailing confidential law enforcement information.

Parenthetically, it also reminds us that all of us are constantly being tested and evaluated whether we like it or not. It points out that some people must just be born stupid or have forgotten that loose lips do, indeed, sink ships.

Lastly, the old adage here applies: If you lie down with dogs, you'll get up with fleas.

It seems that rookie LAPD officer Gabriel Morales had a romantic relationship and the brother of his girlfriend, one Matthew Turner, had recently been convicted of murder in a gang related drive by shooting in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Former officer Morales took it upon himself to access law enforcement data bases to gain information on two witnesses who had testified for the prosecution.

While listening in on Turner's telephone conversations from jail, LAPD murder police heard Morales' name mentioned in connection with the witnesses.

Two days after Turner had been convicted, he told his father that "Gabriel is running their names (and is) supposed to bring me their names today, where their locations at, so we can get ahold of them." It is also supposed that Morales had accessed police databases to locate a third witness who testified in the case.

There are several takehomes here. First of all, information requests leave a trail. Second of all, criminals cannot keep their mouths shut. Third of all, jail telephone calls are monitored and recorded and they tell you that before you pick up the phone.

I've been tempted myself a few times.

Don't do it.