LAKE WALES, Fla. (FOX 35 ORLANDO) - A Lake Wales firefighter is behind bars, accused of possessing child pornography.
According to a press release from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Richard Parr, 49, was arrested on 22 counts of enhanced possession of child pornography.
Deputies said that they received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that an image was discovered in January that appeared to be child pornography. 21 additional images were then identified and linked to an IP address at Parr's Lake Wales home.
The images, investigators said, depicted boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 15-years-old in a lewd manner with adults and some with other children.
After obtaining a search warrant, Parr was arrested. Several electronic devices were seized from his home and more charges are possible, the Sheriff's office said.
"Make no mistake, those who view, possess, buy, and trade child pornography are complicit in the crime against the child depicted in the images. Some have not gotten the message," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. "People in public trust positions are held to a higher standard and we expect better from them. The person we arrested is in a profession that a lot of kids look up to as a role model. We are going to continue to conduct these kinds of investigations to protect our children from those who trade and download child pornography-the demand for this vile material harms children, and ruins lives."
Parr resigned immediately from his position as a firefighter with Polk County Fire Rescue at the time of his arrest.