North St. Paul City Services Unaffected by Cyber Attack

A recent cyber attack on the North St. Paul Police Department has raised concerns, but city officials assure residents that public safety and essential services remain unaffected. The incident stemmed from a phishing email that targeted a single business email account within the department, according to city spokeswoman Ava Griemert. She confirmed that the breach was contained and has not impacted any systems outside of the affected account.

As part of the response, the city council approved a contract with a cybersecurity firm to investigate the breach, which is characterized as a “business email compromise.” This decision was made during a council meeting on July 23, aimed at ensuring the integrity of city operations. Griemert emphasized the swift action taken by the city’s IT team, stating, “Thanks to our IT team’s swift response, the unauthorized access was quickly identified, isolated, and terminated.”

Public Safety Remains a Priority

Detective Peyton Fleming also addressed the situation, reassuring the public that essential services, including law enforcement, continue to function normally. “Public safety and all other essential city services remain fully functional,” he said. Residents are encouraged to contact the police department through the regular channels, including the emergency line, without hesitation.

Despite the effective containment of the attack, some internal systems and online services have experienced limited disruptions. Fleming noted, “We are operating without interruption to our day-to-day services and the community will not be affected by the service they receive.”

While the attack appears to be isolated, there are concerns about the potential exposure of personal and health information. The law firm McDonald Hopkins, hired by the city, indicated that the breach might have resulted in such disclosures. Griemert added that all individuals affected will be contacted directly to inform them of the situation.

Collaborative Efforts to Resolve the Issue

The city is working closely with local, state, and federal partners to address the incident and restore full functionality to its systems. “Our teams are working diligently to resolve the situation,” Fleming stated, highlighting the importance of collaboration in navigating the aftermath of the breach.

This incident comes on the heels of another cyber attack affecting St. Paul, which was discovered late last month and previously forced city services offline. Griemert emphasized the ongoing commitment of the city to safeguard its systems and protect the information of its residents.

As investigations continue, authorities aim to mitigate the impact of the breach and restore confidence in city operations. Residents in North St. Paul can expect regular updates as further information becomes available.