BUFFALO, N.Y. — There's now been a change in Buffalo Police Department policy when it comes to officers taping over their name badges.

Some officers had been doing that to avoid people looking up their personal information and harassing them. 

Police tell Spectrum News some officers who were recorded at protests had their private or identifying information posted on the internet. Then they and their family would get threatening calls and messages.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown announced Thursday that instead of a name badge, officers will wear one with a badge number.

He says this will cut down on the doxing that is happening with police officers. 

“What we have seen is some of these doxing incidents are occurring from people who are not inside this city, are not in this county, and who are not in this region, but people in different parts of this country, maybe internationally, that see a nametag and then go to work on the computer. That is inappropriate. I think it's something that should be illegal, but I also think every police officer that works as a police officer should be identified,” Brown (D) said.

Mayor Brown says it's his understanding that the change went into effect a week ago.