On Sunday, the Associated Press released the results of a year-long investigation into sexual misconduct by police officers across the country. They found that about 1,000 officers were decertified for some type of sexual misconduct—consensual sex on duty, sexual assault, coercion, child molestation/pornography, statutory rape, inter alia—over a six year period. The Morning Call listed the general rules governing misconduct and decertification—where applicable—in each state.
The AP story reported that the 1,000 number is “unquestionably an undercount” of offenders because of the scattershot nature of police misconduct reporting, prosecution, and internal administrative discipline across states and departments. Indeed, such is the nature of tracking any kind of police misconduct.
At the National Police Misconduct Reporting Project (NPMRP), we track all kinds of police misconduct from sexual misconduct to domestic violence to DUI and drug related corruption. Looking at the preliminary data through October 30, NPMRP has tracked at least 130 news reports of sexual misconduct* by American law enforcement personnel in 2015. Almost all were criminal in nature. Many cases had multiple victims and happened over a period of years, supporting the AP claim that many cases go unreported.
You can look at the cases we’ve tracked below the fold. You can read more about NPMRP at PoliceMisconduct.net, follow the @NPMRP Twitter feed, and like our facebook page.
| Jurisdiction/Agency | State | Date of Report | Summary of Incident |
| Jal | NM | 1/5/15 | Chief resigned after being caught having sex in ambulance while on duty. |
| Milan | NM | 1/5/15 | Officer arrested for sexual assault and providing alcohol to a minor. |
| Oklahoma City | OK | 1/9/15 | Officer fired and charged with multiple counts of sexual assault against motorists, all of whom were women of color. |
| Memphis | TN | 1/12/15 | Officer sentenced to one year, suspended, and two years of probation for sexual misconduct. |
| Plano | TX | 1/12/15 | Officer arrested for child pornography distribution and indecent contact with a minor. |
| Duluth | GA | 1/13/15 | Officer fired and arrested for sexual battery of an acquaintance. |
| Homerville | GA | 1/13/15 | Officer arrested for sexual assault of jail inmate. |
| Irwindale | CA | 1/14/15 | Officer sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually assaulting woman after traffic stop. |
| Ocala | FL | 1/16/15 | Officer arrested and fired for soliciting sex from 16-year-old sex worker. |
| Aledo | IL | 1/21/15 | Officer charged with aggravated sexual assault with a weapon. |
| Highstown | NJ | 1/26/15 | Officer faced administrative discipline for having sex on duty. |
| Atlantic City | NJ | 1/27/15 | Officer pled guilty to misconduct and sexual assault of a minor. |
| Falfurrias | TX | 2/10/15 | Officer arrested for sexual assault of a child. |
| New York | NY | 2/11/15 | Sergeant charged with rape for actions against girl under 15 years of age. |
| Mansfield | OH | 2/13/15 | Officer indicted on 40 counts, including 25 felonies, related to sexual battery, burglary, and tampering. |
| Rothschild | WI | 2/17/15 | Officer resigned and charged with sexual assault. |
| Broward County | FL | 2/18/15 | Deputy sentenced to five years for coercing undocumented immigrants into having sex. |
| Shreveport | LA | 2/19/15 | Officer arrested for aggravated rape and intimidation. |
| Adams County | OH | 2/20/15 | Chief deputy charged with multiple rape counts for actions at his home with 15-year-old girl. |
| Chatham County | GA | 2/25/15 | Deputy fired and arrested for filing false statements and sexual assault of an inmate. |
| Grand Rapids | MI | 3/3/15 | Officer charged with home invasion and sexual assault of his ex-girlfriend. |
| Memphis | TN | 3/3/15 | Officer arrested for performing a lewd act and solicitation of a minor. |
| New Orleans | LA | 3/4/15 | Officer arrested for solicitation of prostitution. |
| Orange Beach | AL | 3/9/15 | Officer indicted on two counts of sexual abuse of a child under 12. |
| Long Beach | MS | 3/12/15 | Officer indicted on multiple counts of statutory rape for actions with 15-year-old girl. |
| New York | NY | 3/12/15 | Two officers went to Seattle to interview rape victim and went drinking with her. They were all very drunk and they convinced her to come back to their hotel, where one officer eventually crawled into bed with her and ripped her shirt while making sexual advances. They pled guilty to administrative charges, were sentenced to forfeit vacation time and were transferred out of their departments, but ultimately kept their jobs as police officers. |
| Exeter | CA | 3/13/15 | Officer sentenced to 45 days in jail for sex with a minor who was in department's youth program. |
| McLennan County | TX | 3/13/15 | Constable fired and arrested for soliciting sex from a minor. |
| Syracuse | NY | 3/16/15 | Officer indicted for misconduct for having sex with woman who called police for help. |
| Pitt County | NC | 3/18/15 | SRO arrested for statutory rape of a 15-year-old student. |
| USCBP (Ysleta, TX) | USCBP | 3/19/15 | Agent arrested for sexual assault of a child. |
| Hardin County | TX | 3/20/15 | Deputy pled guilty to making false statement in a child pornography investigation. |
| Seminole County | FL | 3/24/15 | Deputy fired and arrested on molestation charges. |
| New York | NY | 3/27/15 | Officer arrested for repeated sexual assaults of 16-year-old girl at church where he served as pastor. |
| Indiana Excise Police | IN | 3/31/15 | Officer arrested for sexual misconduct with a minor. |
| Eugene | OR | 4/6/15 | Officer sentenced to seven years for child pornography possession and hiding cameras in police bathroom. |
| Vidalia | GA | 4/6/15 | Suspended and charged with statutory rape of a 15-year-old girl. |
| Ohio State Police | OH | 4/10/15 | State trooper was sentenced to five years in prison for throwing out traffic tickets in exchange for sexual favors. |
| Fairfax County | VA | 4/16/15 | Officer charged with child pornography possession. |
| Indiana University-Bloomington | IN | 4/17/15 | Officer resigned after he was accused of raping a student. |
| Butler County | OH | 4/22/15 | Deputy arrested for a sex crime against a minor. |
| Park Ridge | IL | 4/22/15 | Officer suspended for sending sexual images to woman who recently had contact with the police. |
| Wichita | KS | 4/30/15 | Retired officer tried for multiple counts of sexual contacts with minors during last several years of his career. |
| Hillsborough | NC | 5/5/15 | Officer sentenced to 20-33 months, suspended, for sexual contact with two 13-year-old children. |
| Washington County | OR | 5/8/15 | Sergeant resigned during investigation into sexual harassment and misconduct. |
| Bethel | OH | 5/12/15 | Officer resigned after indictment for rape and sexual battery. |
| St. Clair County | MI | 5/12/15 | Deputy fired and arrested for sexual misconduct for having sex w/ jail inmate. |
| Bossier Parish | LA | 5/14/15 | Deputy fired and arrested for solicitation of prostitution. |
| Orange County | FL | 5/14/15 | Deputy resigned before he was arrested for child pornography. |
| Onslow County | NC | 5/15/15 | Deputy charged with solicitation of child pornography. |
| Chicago | IL | 5/18/15 | The City settled a lawsuit with a woman who claimed two officers sexually assaulted her while they were on duty. |
| Washington | DC | 5/18/15 | Officer arrested for sexual abuse of a minor and child pornography. |
| Lincoln County | WI | 5/21/15 | Deputy resigned after his arrest for molesting a 15-year-old girl. |
| New York State Police | NY | 6/1/15 | Trooper acquitted on 3 of 4 rape charges. Jury hung on fourth charge. |
| Winona County | MN | 6/4/15 | Deputy fired and arrested for solicitation of prostitution. |
| Greece | NY | 6/5/15 | Officer sentenced to four years in prison and 10 years supervised release for child pornography conviction. |
| Ann Arbor | MI | 6/8/15 | Officer sentenced to 11 months in jail for offering leniency to female suspect in exchange for sex. |
| Brandenburg | KY | 6/11/15 | Officer's trial for child rape postponed until April 2016. |
| Williams County | ND | 6/11/15 | Deputy arrested for child pornography. |
| Oklahoma State Police | OK | 6/12/15 | Trooper ordered to stand trial for rape of motorist during traffic stop. |
| Tallahassee | FL | 6/15/15 | Officer arrested for solicitation of prostitution. |
| New York State Police | NY | 6/17/15 | Trooper arrested for sexual assault of woman in Atlantic City. |
| Amarillo | TX | 6/19/15 | Officer fired after sexual assault allegation. |
| DeKalb County | GA | 6/19/15 | Deputy sentenced to 1 year in prison and 9 years of supervised release for soliciting prostitution on duty. |
| Seaside Park | NJ | 6/19/15 | Officer arrested for sexual contact with minor. |
| Dane County | WI | 6/25/15 | Deputy convicted of sexual assault for actions against a woman who was serving her sentence in home confinement. |
| Phoenix | AZ | 6/29/15 | Officer arrested for kidnapping and sexual assault against a woman in custody. |
| Tuscon | AZ | 6/29/15 | Two officers resigned; 5 others under investigation for involvement with sex workers. |
| Champaign | IL | 7/6/15 | Officer arrested for sexual assault and domestic battery. |
| Fairfax County | SC | 7/7/15 | Deputy sentenced to 20 years for sex crimes against 11-year-old child. |
| Phoenix | AZ | 7/14/15 | Officer pled guilty to sexual contact with a minor. |
| Dallas | TX | 7/22/15 | Officer arrested and fired for sex acts against a child. |
| Sacramento | CA | 7/22/15 | Officer was convicted for repeatedly raping elderly woman at senior living facility. |
| Maypearl | TX | 7/23/15 | Chief terminated and charged for sex acts against minors. |
| Hartsville | IN | 7/24/15 | Deputy town marshal arrested for attempted solicitation of a child. |
| Portland | OR | 7/24/15 | Officer placed on leave after he was accused of demanding sexual acts from a woman. |
| Fresno | CA | 7/28/15 | Officer resigned after being discovered in prostitution investigation. |
| Dallas | TX | 7/31/15 | Officer pled guilty to aggravated assault after he was charged with raping a woman who was sleeping. He received a five-year suspended sentence. |
| Mt. Pleasant | NY | 8/3/15 | Chief pled guilty to child pornography charges. |
| Whitehouse | TX | 8/3/15 | Chief resigned one week after an assault charge for unwanted sexual advances against him was dropped. |
| Las Vegas | NV | 8/4/15 | Detective sentenced to 3 years of probation for attacking a sex worker. |
| Boscawen | NH | 8/6/15 | Former officer who was then chief of Canterbury was arrested for sexual assault of a minor for actions while employed in Boscawen. |
| Jackson County | NC | 8/7/15 | Deputy pled guilty to obstruction for covering up underage drinking and statutory rape charges. |
| Pasco County | FL | 8/7/15 | Deputy arrested for soliciting sex from a minor. |
| San Bernadino County | CA | 8/7/15 | Deputy accused of sex with jail inmate. |
| Spearsville | LA | 8/12/15 | Chief convicted of child rape sentenced to life imprisonment. |
| Cleveland | TN | 8/14/15 | Two officers suspended for sexual misconduct. |
| Sevier County | TN | 8/14/15 | Deputy sentenced to 90 days of house arrest after he pled guilty to misconduct for having sex with woman while on duty. |
| Emmett Township | MI | 8/17/15 | Officer suspended for sexual assault arrested again for sexual assault. |
| Greece | NY | 8/17/15 | Officer fired and arrested for sexual harassment and stalking. |
| Kiowa | OK | 8/18/15 | Officer fired and charged with abduction and sexual seduction for actions against a 15-year-old girl. |
| Oakland | FL | 8/19/15 | Officer charged with child molestation and child pornography. |
| Elburn | IL | 8/20/15 | Officer charged with 33 counts related to sexual abuse of a child over 10 years. |
| Gretna | LA | 8/20/15 | Officer arrested for child pornography. |
| DEA (McAllen, TX) | DEA | 8/21/15 | Agent arrested for accessing child pornography. |
| Haskell | AR | 8/21/15 | Officer arrested on sexual assault and child pornography charges. |
| Oak Ridge | TN | 8/21/15 | Officer fired amid statutory rape allegations. He left his previous law enforcement position after being accused of indecent exposure. |
| Eagle County | CO | 9/8/15 | Deputy sentenced to 180 days--90 in jail, 90 in work release--for sexual assault. |
| Kern County | CA | 9/9/15 | Deputy sentenced to two years in prison for sexual battery. |
| San Mateo | CA | 9/9/15 | Deputy found guilty of child molestation. |
| Maryland State Police | MD | 9/10/15 | Trooper indicted for forcing a woman to perform sex act at gunpoint. |
| Michigan State Police | MI | 9/10/15 | Trooper found guilty on four counts of 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct. |
| Birmingham | AL | 9/11/15 | Officer indicted for rape and sexual abuse of a child. |
| Shelby County | TN | 9/11/15 | Deputy arrested for statutory rape. |
| Spalding County | OH | 9/11/15 | Captain charged with aggravated assault, influencing witnesses, stalking, sexual battery, and other charges against department employees. |
| Germantown | TN | 9/14/15 | Officer fired while rape charge pending. |
| Memphis | TN | 9/15/15 | Officer arrested for sexual battery, official misconduct and oppression. |
| East St. Louis | IL | 9/21/15 | Officer on leave for suspected sexual assault off duty. |
| Isabella County | MI | 9/21/15 | Deputy pled no contest to attempting to extort sexual favors from suspects. |
| Port St. Lucie | FL | 9/23/15 | Officer arrested for child pornography. |
| Fairview | OK | 9/24/15 | Officer arrested for child pornography. |
| San Antonio | TX | 9/25/15 | Three officers charged with sexual assault and official oppression. |
| San Jose | CA | 9/25/15 | Officer charged with rape fired. |
| Crestview | FL | 9/29/15 | Officer resigned in lieu of termination amid sexual battery allegations. |
| Greenville | TN | 10/2/15 | Officer sentenced to 18 months for having sexual relationships with several jail inmates. |
| Kentucky State Police | KY | 10/5/15 | Trooper pled guilty to sex with a minor. Four other law enforcement officers were terminated or charged for sexual contact with same girl. |
| University of Oklahoma | OK | 10/7/15 | Officer arrested for breaking into a car, stealing cell phone, and attempting to send or access sexual content with that phone. |
| Spring ISD | TX | 10/15/15 | SRO arrested for sexual assault against a minor. |
| Watervliet | NY | 10/15/15 | SRO pled guilty to sodomy charges against student at his school. |
| Chicago | IL | 10/19/15 | Two officers under investigation for sex trafficking. |
| Tulsa County | OK | 10/19/15 | Deputy found guilty of sexual battery and indecent exposure while in uniform. |
| Walton County | GA | 10/19/15 | Deputy arrested for child pornography. |
| Fort Smith | AR | 10/22/15 | Resigned after his arrest for solicitation. |
| Henderson | TX | 10/22/15 | Officer accused of sex crimes against a child. |
| Adams County | CO | 10/26/15 | Deputy fired for sexual assault on duty. |
| Cypress-Fairbanks ISD | TX | 10/26/15 | SRO sentenced to one year for pulling over motorist and asking for sexual favor in exchange for looking other way on misdemeanor charge. |
| Live Oak | FL | 10/29/15 | Officer fired for child pornography possession. |
| Boynton Beach | FL | 10/30/15 | The City settled lawsuit for over $800,000 brought by a 21-year-old woman who accused officer of raping her last year. The officer was acquitted at trial. |
| Los Angeles County | CA | 10/30/15 | Deputy was arrested for child molestation. |
| Spokane | WA | 10/30/15 | Spokane Co. Sheriff accuses city police of covering up sexual assault against SCSO employee. |
*This number was compiled by searching the @NPMRP Twitter feed using the terms “rape,”“sex,” “sexual,” “pornography,” “solicitation,” and “molestation.” Other cases of stalking, harassment, and other charges that may be sexual in nature would not necessarily be counted in these searches.