Akron Police Officer Arrested on Child Porn Charges
The arrest of police office Geoffrey Parker a police officer with the Akron Police Department, on child pornography charges has sent shockwaves through the community and raised significant concerns regarding the integrity of law enforcement. The incident has garnered substantial media attention, prompting discussions about the implications of such charges against members of the police force and the broader issues related to trust and accountability in law enforcement agencies.
Akron Police Officer Geoffrey Parker stands next to his defense attorney while being addressed by Judge Christopher Shaker (not pictured) during Parker’s arraignment Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, at Niles Municipal Court. (Kassi Filkins /Signal Akron)
Geoffrey Parker was arrested on August 16 following an investigation that uncovered disturbing evidence suggesting his involvement in possession and distribution of child pornography. According to the criminal complaints Parker is facing (5) Counts of Pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor and (2) felonies for photographing a 5-year-old child in “a state of nudity” and then sharing those photographs online to receive other explicit images of children. All seven charges are second degree felonies and are alleged to have occurred between August 13 and 16 at his home in Mineral Ridge, just outside of Niles in Trumbull County.
Niles City Prosecutor Philip Zuzolo told Signal Akron that Parker was involved in a group using the Kik application. He said Parker uploaded images of the minor as a “quid pro quo” to receive material from other users. He said on August 13, the day Parker sent the files an artificial intelligence program flagged them as potential child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and sent the content to a task force in Washington, DC., for a human to analyze the files. The case was quickly referred to the Ohio BCI, whose agents arrested Parker at the Akron Police Department headquarters. He was booked into the Summit County Jail on a “courtesy” hold. When Parker was detained by BCI agents, Zuzolo said that Parker “made admissions” about some of the allegations. SignalAkron
Judge Christopher Shaker set Parkers bond at 1 million dollars cash/surety bond at Wednesday’s hearing. He also said Parker is to have no contact with his children. If Parker post bond, he is barred from returning home because it is near a school, and he also can’t have contact with his children. When Shaker asked him where he would stay if he posted bond, Parker said a sister in Brookfield might take him in. Parker will face another hearing in Niles Municipal Court, where it will be determined whether there is probable cause for the charges. If so, the case will be sent to a grand jury at the Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas.
Parker, a four-year cop for Akron Police Department 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. Akron Police Chief Brian Harding said “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.” “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,” said Police Chief Brian Harding.
The arrest of Officer Geoffrey Parker raises broader questions about the culture within the police departments and the mechanisms in place to address misconduct. Incidents of this nature can erode public trust, making it imperative for law enforcement agencies to handle such cases with the utmost transparency and diligence. The Akron community is closely watching how the situation unfolds, hoping for a resolution that reinforces the principles of justice and accountability. With his bail being set at 1 million and a preliminary hearing on the horizon, the case remains under scrutiny. The administrative leave placed on Parker reflects the seriousness of the charges, as the community awaits further developments in what has become a pivotal moment for law enforcement in Akron.