Miramar Police officer George Richardson, age 37, faces charges including the use of a child in a sexual performance, lewd or lascivious written solicitation of certain minors, and harmful communication with a minor, after being arrested yesterday in West Park, as reported by WSVN.
Richardson, who has been with the Miramar Police Department for three years, was taken into custody by the Broward County Sheriff's Office and subsequently relieved of his police duties, the impact of his arrest casting a long shadow over the department while the allegations, shocking in their nature and involving a teen in the police explorer program, an initiative for youth mentorship, which now faces scrutiny from the community and police officials alike, Chief Delrish Moss expressed deep disappointment over the breach of trust, confirming immediate cooperation with the proper authorities to ensure a full investigation and due process, according to statement obtained by Local 10 News.
The charges against Richardson, detailed in both the Local 10 News report and jail records, have led to a bond set at $25,000, under which he has been released as of this morning, the officer was seen leaving the jail while attempting to shield his face from the probing eyes of reporters now the case moves forward with potential ramifications for how police-community programs are managed and overseen moving forward.
Miramar Police Chief Delrish Moss asserts, "The trust bestowed upon law enforcement officers is paramount, and any breach of that trust is unacceptable," as per a statement obtained by NBC6.
