Lake Mary, FL — Last month, the Daytona Beach Police Department’s Advanced Technology and Cybercrime’s (ATAC) unit launched an investigation after receiving a tip about a child porn distribution ring that was being run on a social media app. After doing some digging, Daytona cops made a disturbing discovery — the perpetrator distributing images of child sexual abuse on the app — was one of their own.

This week, Officer Brandon Fox, 22, was arrested and charged with 7 counts of possession and distribution of child pornography. According to police, they received information regarding an individual sharing child pornography via a social media app that included images and videos of sexual acts involving children under 10.

During the investigation, police tracked the horrifying images and videos back to Fox. Investigators then executed a search warrant at his residence and noted that additional charges may be filed as they continue their investigation.

After discovering that Fox was the culprit, a judge issued an arrest warrant on the seven counts and Fox was brought in without incident. He is currently being held in the Volusia County Jail on a $70,000 bond.

According to police, Fox had been with the department for two years. He was fired immediately after his arrest.

After one of his own officers was arrested for such disturbing crimes, chief Jakari Young issued the following statement:

The Daytona Beach Police received information regarding an individual sharing child pornography via a social media app to include images and videos of sexual acts involving children under 10 years of age. The department’s Advanced Technology and Cybercrime’s (ATAC) unit promptly began an inquiry into this sickening crime, after further investigation it was determined that the suspect in this case was Officer Brandon Fox. Fox is 22 years old and has been with the department for 2 years. A judge issued an arrest warrant on (7) counts of possession of child pornography with a $70,000 bond. Fox was taken into custody and transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail without incident. A search warrant was executed at his residence and additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues. Fox was immediately terminated from the Daytona Beach Police Department.

This incident, which led to the arrest of one of our own officers was internally reported and investigated by the Daytona Beach Police Department. Our response to this incident echoes our commitment to hold not only the community, but even our own officers responsible for their actions. Anyone found to be in violation of the law, including members of law enforcement who are sworn to protect and serve will be held accountable.

Hopefully, the chief stands by his comments and follows through on holding Fox accountable. All too often the exact opposite happens.

As we reported last month, in August of 2020, former New Mexico State Police officer, Ricky Romero, was granted a plea deal after admitting to soliciting and receiving sexually explicit images from an underage girl on social media. Instead of jail time for this child predator, Romero’s badge granted him blue privilege and he was given probation.

Thanks to his blue privilege, Romero avoided jail and didn’t have to register as a sex offender. While on probation for sex crimes against children, Romero was arrested again.

According to the United States Attorney’s office for the District of New Mexico, Romero appeared in federal court on March 23 where he was charged with coercion and enticement of a minor and receiving child pornography — again.

Article posted with permission from Matt Agorist