An Elgin police officer is in deep water after the Illinois Attorney General slapped him with child pornography charges. Jordan Collins, a 33-year-old lawman from Kirkland, was booked on five counts of possessing illicit material, Class 2 felonies with potential seven-year prison stints each.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul, in an unrelenting push against those preying on children, is personally spearheading the case against Collins, who's cooling his heels in DeKalb County Jail. His next court appearance is on December 20.
According to a statement by Raoul's office, the evidence surfaced after a search of the cop's residence earlier this month. Collins, with half a decade under his belt with the Elgin Police Department, got snapped up while on the job.
"All child predators, particularly those in a position of authority, must be held accountable for the horrific crime of child pornography that can leave life-long scars on victims and their families," Raoul asserted. The collaring of Collins was a team effort, with Raoul's posse working hand in glove with the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department.
His arrest drew a swift reaction from the brass at Elgin PD. Police Chief Ana Lalley stated, "The criminal actions of a single police officer do not define the Elgin Police Department," confirming Collins' immediate leave and affirming the outfit's high ethical bar.
The dirty cop’s bust is part of a wider net cast by Raoul, who co-prosecutes with the DeKalb County State’s Attorney's Office on these cases. His team is also instrumental in the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a DOJ-funded initiative that's part of a national dragnet for creeps exploiting kids through the web.
For those haunted by the specter of child sexual exploitation, Raoul points to www.cybertipline.com as a beacon for reporting such abuses. Furthermore, the Illinois task force has racked up over 620 arrests since 2019, proving their steadfast resolve in this ongoing warfare against predators hiding behind screens.
The prosecution of Jordan Collins is steered by Deputy Bureau Chief Shannon O’Brien of Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau, a clear signal that Illinois' honchos are bringing their heavy hitters for these heinous crimes.
