Post by WaTcHeR on Jan 24, 2006 10:34:01 GMT -5
01/24/2006 - A Mobile police officer -- once named officer of the month -- was arrested Monday and charged with possession of child pornography, authorities said.
The officer, Fredrick Renfroe, 43, was taken to Mobile County Metro Jail where he was being held in lieu of $3,000 bail late Monday.
Mobile County Personnel Board records show that Renfroe has been disciplined twice for lesser offenses since he joined the force in March 2002.
Mobile police Chief Sam Cochran said Monday that he didn't personally know Renfroe but was surprised by the child pornography charge.
"We did a thorough background check on him before we hired him," the chief said. "It included a polygraph test, a psychological test, a background check, interviews and ... there was no indication whatsoever that there was a hint of this."
Cochran said Renfroe was placed on administrative leave without pay Friday after a search warrant was issued for Renfroe's home computer. Renfroe turned in his resignation Sunday at the 3rd Precinct, the chief said.
"We have not accepted his resignation in good standing, and we have moved against him with disciplinary charges that we expect will result in his termination, and he also faces criminal charges," the chief said.
Internal Affairs and criminal investigations are being conducted, Cochran said. The department is working on the investigation along with the Mobile County district attorney's office and the Child Advocacy Center, the chief said.
Steve Giardini, the Mobile County assistant district attorney who investigates child abuse cases, said Monday that possession of child pornography is a Class C felony. If Renfroe is convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison, the prosecutor said.
"We executed a search warrant Friday, and he was arrested Monday," the prosecutor said.
The officer, Fredrick Renfroe, 43, was taken to Mobile County Metro Jail where he was being held in lieu of $3,000 bail late Monday.
Mobile County Personnel Board records show that Renfroe has been disciplined twice for lesser offenses since he joined the force in March 2002.
Mobile police Chief Sam Cochran said Monday that he didn't personally know Renfroe but was surprised by the child pornography charge.
"We did a thorough background check on him before we hired him," the chief said. "It included a polygraph test, a psychological test, a background check, interviews and ... there was no indication whatsoever that there was a hint of this."
Cochran said Renfroe was placed on administrative leave without pay Friday after a search warrant was issued for Renfroe's home computer. Renfroe turned in his resignation Sunday at the 3rd Precinct, the chief said.
"We have not accepted his resignation in good standing, and we have moved against him with disciplinary charges that we expect will result in his termination, and he also faces criminal charges," the chief said.
Internal Affairs and criminal investigations are being conducted, Cochran said. The department is working on the investigation along with the Mobile County district attorney's office and the Child Advocacy Center, the chief said.
Steve Giardini, the Mobile County assistant district attorney who investigates child abuse cases, said Monday that possession of child pornography is a Class C felony. If Renfroe is convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison, the prosecutor said.
"We executed a search warrant Friday, and he was arrested Monday," the prosecutor said.