PHOENIX — A Phoenix police officer accused of receiving and possessing thousands of images of child pornography resigned prior to scheduled administrative action, the city's police department said.
Alaa Bartley resigned on April 18, the Phoenix Police Department said.
Alaa Bartley, 41, of Gilbert, was arrested in early April and placed on administrative leave, according to the Phoenix Police Department. In a news release, the FBI said Bartley is facing charges connected to receiving and possessing child sex abuse images. Neighbors of the officer told 12News that federal agents raided the officer's home, as well.
“What is alleged, is contrary to the courageous work done every day by the men and women of the Phoenix Police Department to protect one of the most vulnerable populations in our community, our children,” Interim Police Chief Michael Sullivan said in an April 8 statement.
12News first reported that Bartley was accused of repeatedly exchanging images of child sex abuse while he was a police officer.
Bartley was indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday for a series of child pornography-related offenses, including attempted production of child pornography, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and multiple counts of distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography, according to the District of Arizona United States Attorney's Office.
That new indictment includes new charges of enticement and accuses Bartley of trying to take sexually explicit images of a 15-year-old girl in a bathroom in 2019.
Those charges could lead to Bartley facing decades to possibly life in prison, per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Since 12News learned of the investigation, we've been asking the Phoenix Police Department if Bartley's cases would be reviewed. 12News also previously obtained his H.R. file that details at least three cases he worked involving minors.
RELATED: Personnel file of Phoenix police officer facing child pornography charges obtained by 12News
The Phoenix Police Department identified cases for review, dating back to 2008, in which Bartley was one of the initial responding officers, police said. The cases were independently investigated by detectives under normal protocols without Bartley's involvement, police said.
The Phoenix Police Department is also working with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office to review cases that have been submitted for prosecution dating back to 2012.
Bartley, who was on the force for 16 years, has numerous commendations, including being named employee of the month last July.
Earlier this week, only 12News was in the courtroom as a federal judge ordered that Bartley remain in federal custody because of "instability" and because he's a flight risk.
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