Phoenix, AZ
Veteran police officer Richard Michael Polk has been arrested following an investigation into Internet child pornography. Officer Polk is a 26-year veteran officer who is currently a homicide detective.
Court documents say investigators found downloaded videos at Officer Polk’s home depicting children, under the age of 15, engaging in various sex acts. Online banking services were linked to purchases of child pornography, police said. He also used online file sharing service to distribute images.
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement initially became aware of Polk's activities through their cyber crimes enforcement. They shared information with Phoenix Police officers, who continued to investigate through their internal affairs department. Phoenix Police's investigation leading up to Polk's arrest lasted six months.
A search of his Surprise home Wednesday revealed several removable thumb drives with about 20 videos, half of which showed children no older than 15 in various sexual acts, the court documents said.
The drives, along with computers and other evidence seized during the search, will undergo further analysis as the investigation continues. Thorough investigation is necessary when technology is involved, Gonzales said. The department also applies a high standard of scrutiny when dealing with its employees.
“We take every investigation seriously,” Gonzales said. “He was treated as any other citizen would be treated in the circumstances of the investigation.”
He has been released on a $250,000 bond, but must stay away from minors and may only see his own child under supervision.
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