A Cop’s Curious Call Meets Cautious Confidentiality

I work in a hotel. It’s almost 1:00 am, and a cop just called me asking to disclose guest information. They found a man walking down the highway, “appearing disoriented”. The man said he was looking for his wife at a hotel in [My Town].

Me: “Sorry, but I can’t disclose any information about guests.”

Cop: “So, you can’t run the name and tell me if she is or isn’t there?”

Me: “No. Any guest information is confidential.”

Cop: “Is that, like, policy? I just don’t get why you can’t tell me if she’s there.”

Me: “I mean…. There are circumstances that make it unsafe for me and my guests — like if he was beating her or something, maybe she doesn’t want him to know where she’s at?”

Cop: “No. I’m not— This isn’t for him… So, is it hotel policy? Because a Supreme Court ruling says your hotel isn’t liable—”

Me: “Yes, it’s hotel policy. I’m not releasing any of the guests’ information. I can run the name and get her to contact you if she’s here and wants her husband here, but if not…”

Cop: “So, you’re not going to do it? Okay. Have a good night, then, ma’am.” *Click*

It seems a little sketchy. Why not accept the help I was able to offer if you really needed help? And if you weren’t going to tell the husband, then what were you going to do with the information? And you have the wife’s full name but no contact information?

It’s never boring here.