A veteran Long Beach police officer was arrested today on suspicion of possessing images depicting the sexual abuse of children, the department announced.
Police said 56-year old Anthony Mark Brown was taken into custody while he was on duty Wednesday after detectives finished investigating a tip about a “possible online crime against a child” they got in May. Long Beach police said the tip came in through an internet crimes task force that they are a part of.
While Brown was detained, officers searched his home in Lakewood and he was subsequently booked into jail on suspicion of possession of images of child sexual abuse, police said.
Brown has been a police officer for 26 years and was most recently assigned to the Long Beach Airport, the LBPD said.
In a statement, the department said it was “deeply disappointed” to announce Brown’s arrest.
“When the actions of an individual employee erode the values of our organization and the public trust all of us have worked so hard to cultivate, they must be held accountable,” stated Acting Chief of Police Wally Hebeish. “Protecting children is one of our most sacred responsibilities, and the actions of this officer do not represent the professionalism and commitment that all of our employees show every day while protecting our community.”
Police said Brown has been suspended without pay while detectives and internal affairs investigators continue to gather evidence. He was being held on $20,000 bail.
Investigators are still processing items that were seized at Brown’s home Wednesday, and authorities said they will provide more details as they become available about what was found and how the case was investigated.
In a tweet, the Long Beach Police Officers Association, the union that represents LBPD officers, said it would not be providing legal defense for Brown.
— Long Beach POA (@LBPOA) February 11, 2021