AKRON, Ohio — Geoffrey Parker, an Akron police officer, has been placed on administrative leave after being arrested on child pornography charges, including obscenity of a minor and illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.
According to Akron police, Parker was arrested on Friday, Aug. 16, at around 9 p.m. by members of the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Following the arrest, Parker was taken to the Summit County Jail.
Parker, a four-year police department member, was "immediately placed on administrative leave with pay, per departmental procedure and according to the union contract, pending a criminal indictment," according to a press release from Akron police.
“I am sickened to learn of these charges against one of our employees. I thank the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for handling this case and trust that the judicial and legal process will reveal the truth," said Akron Police Chief Brian Harding. "Anyone engaging in this behavior should be held accountable for their actions to the fullest extent possible by law. I’m confident that justice will be served.”
The City of Akron Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards and Accountability will conduct a separate internal investigation into the allegations. The results will be provided to Harding for a final review.
"If you have been the victim of abuse, no matter who the perpetrator is, we encourage you to come forward and report it by contacting your local police department. You can also contact the Victim Assistance Program hotline at 330-376-0040, 24 hours a day, for crisis intervention, advocacy, and education," said Akron police.