‘Deeply troubling’: Arlington police officer accused of possessing more than 1,000 child sex abuse files

An officer with the Arlington Police Department (APD) was arrested on allegations involving possessing child pornography.

The Island County Sheriff’s Office arrested the officer for allegedly possessing images depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, APD said in a statement to KIRO Newsradio.

The officer has been accused of having more than 1,000 files of child sex abuse materials. His girlfriend turned in two hard drives of child pornography to deputies after finding the images in their Camano Island home.

A criminal investigation is underway. Department leaders called the allegations “deeply troubling.”

Arlington officer placed on administrative leave

The officer was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of both the criminal investigation and an internal administrative investigation.

“These allegations are deeply troubling and, if proven true, would stand in direct opposition to the values, oath, and mission of this department,” APD stated. “The men and women of the Arlington Police Department have dedicated their professional lives to protecting the safety and well-being of our community, especially children and other vulnerable members of society. Conduct of this nature, if substantiated, would be fundamentally incompatible with the responsibilities entrusted to law enforcement officers.”

APD also acknowledged that the officer is entitled to the same constitutional protections afforded to every member of the justice system and is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

“The department remains committed to ensuring that all administrative actions are conducted fairly, lawfully, and with respect for due process,” APD stated.

APD said it is cooperating with the sheriff’s office while respecting the legal rights of all parties. It noted that because the matter is an active investigation, the department will have limited ability to comment further at this time.

“No one is more committed to identifying and removing misconduct from the profession than the many law enforcement officers who serve their communities with integrity each day,” APD stated. “Our department remains committed to maintaining the trust of the public through accountability, professionalism, and transparency.”

Prosecutors expect to have a charging decision by Friday.

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest