A former 17-year officer of the Phoenix Police Department has been indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple counts of child pornography-related offenses.

41-year-old Gilbert resident Alaa Robert Bartley is accused of taking sexually explicit images of a 15 year-old girl in a bathroom in 2019,  repeatedly exchanging images of child pornography from 2020 to 2023 and allegedly attempting to induce another minor to engage in criminal sexual activity from 2023 to April 2024.

An investigation into Bartley’s alleged criminal conduct was conducted by the FBI. Upon learning of it, the Phoenix Police Department placed him on administrative leave. 

Bartley resigned April 18. On April 30, he was ordered into custody pending trial.

"The Phoenix Police Department has identified cases for review, dating back to 2008, in which Bartley was one of the initial responding officers," the department said in a May 2 release. "Those cases were independently investigated by detectives under normal protocols without Bartley’s involvement. We are also working with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to review cases that have been submitted for prosecution dating back to 2012."

“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," said Interim Phoenix Police Chief Michael Sullivan in an April 8 statement.