BOSTON -- Lawrence police said they do not yet know why Mark Rivera, 32, a former special assistant to schools superintendent Wilfredo Laboy, did unauthorized background checks on hundreds of people using school computers.

"It's not illegal. However, if this information was disseminated, it could become illegal," said police Chief John Romero.

Many of the names on the nearly 60 page list are average citizens.

Gov. Deval Patrick, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, former Red Sox player Johnny Damon, former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield and superintendent Laboy, who could not be reached for comment, are among the high profile names Rivera searched.

He also did a background check on Romero.

"We made the list public so people could look at the list. If their name is on it they should do a fresh credit check and see if anything has happened with any of their accounts or anything, and then contact us," said Romero.

Newscenter 5's Amalia Barreda reported that detectives also want to talk to Harry Maldonado, a former police officer hired by the school department as a private investigator. Maldonado has reportedly denied doing it, but, police said his user ID also shows questionable background checks on hundreds of people.

Romero said Rivera and Maldonado used Lexis Nexis software, a program installed by the district to try and locate the families of students who had dropped out of school.

The police chief said the investigation is continuing to determine if Rivera and Maldonado were motivated by more than just curiosity.

"I'm troubled by the fact that it was used this way, to check on people's personal information. Clearly they didn't have a right to do it and it was done," said Romero.