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May 16, 2023
A former officer with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has been charged with eight counts of lewd acts with a child after allegedly sexually assaulting four boys while on the job, according to the Los Angeles Times. The incidents allegedly took place at the officer’s Covina home while employed with the department, the District Attorney’s Office said in a press release.
Paul Razo, 46, was arrested by officials from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Unit Wednesday. He is expected to be arraigned today in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Razo’s bail has reportedly been set at $2.5 million.
“The allegations of sexual abuse against vulnerable children in this case are deeply disturbing and it’s particularly troubling that the defendant was a law enforcement officer at the time,” District Attorney George Gascón said.
“Childhood sexual abuse causes immeasurable harm,” Gascón added. “Sexual abuse of any kind is a heinous crime and we will not tolerate it in our community.”
Razo had worked for more than 25 years at the LAPD, according to the Los Angeles Times. The District Attorney’s Office announced the following child sex abuse allegations against the former police officer:
According to the press release, the victims who were not related to Razo “often reportedly spent the night” at the former LAPD officer’s home.
The alleged crimes occurred during various times between 2006 and 2017, when Razo was still employed by the Los Angeles Police Department. The suspect reportedly left the LAPD in April 2023.
Razo had received commendations for his police work and was involved in a number of high-profile cases.
“Razo was awarded the department’s Medal of Valor for his off-duty rescue of a man trapped in a burning car in Glendora in July 2016. Though the driver was killed on impact, Razo leaned inside the burning car and pulled a surviving male passenger out through the window,” the Los Angeles Times reported.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials indicated that there may be additional victims.
“Based on the nature of the allegations and Mr. Razo’s access to children, detectives believe there may be additional unidentified victims,” the LASD said in a press release.
Anyone with information related to a sex crime committed by former LAPD officer Paul Razo is urged to contact authorities immediately.
Tips can be sent to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Special Victims Bureau toll-free tip line at 877-710-5273 or by email at specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org. Anonymous tips may be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477).
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – Special Victims Bureau investigates the sexual and physical abuse of children and felonious sexual assaults involving adult victims, the department press release said.
The eight counts of lewd acts with a child filed against Razo come just days after the arrest of a rookie officer on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child younger than 14 before he was hired by the LAPD, the Los Angeles Times confirmed.
“Diego Jose Miranda Lopez, 23, was a probationary officer; he resigned when confronted with the allegations. He has not been charged,” the Times said.
The alleged sexual assault committed by the LAPD probationary officer “occurred before Lopez joined the department… He is being held without bail at LAPD’s Valley Jail,” the Los Angeles Times reported on April 21.
The Dordulian Law Group (DLG) blog has featured a number of recent arrests involving police officers accused of sexual assault.
In December 2022, a former Stockton police sergeant was charged with 15 sexual assault counts. The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office reportedly filed the charges with the Superior Court of the State of California against Nicholas Bloed, a 14-year veteran of the department. Bloed’s bail was set at $4 million.
Some of the charges against Bloed included:
Bloed had been promoted to the rank of sergeant in February 2022.
A separate civil lawsuit was filed by three women alleging that Bloed forced them into various sex acts while on duty with the Stockton Police. One of the incidents reportedly involved Bloed forcing himself on a women in a room at a local Motel 6.
In April, DLG published a blog detailing sexual misconduct allegations against 20 local police officers.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the officers face possible decertification by the state’s law enforcement accreditation body. To remain employed as law enforcement officials, they must be cleared by a Commission of Peace Officer Standards (POST).
The officers are reportedly accused of various types of serious misconduct, including:
The list of California police officers who face decertification over sexual misconduct charges can be found here.
If you’ve been victimized by a law enforcement official, contact the experienced sexual assault attorneys at DLG today for a free and confidential consultation. Our proven team is led by Sam Dordulian, a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County who has obtained more than 100 jury trial victories.
Our Sexual Assault Justice Experts are here to help survivors secure justice. Contact our top-rated attorneys online or by phone for a free consultation today.
DLG’s Los Angeles police sexual misconduct lawyers are available 24/7 by calling 866-GO-SEE-SAM.
Sam Dordulian is an award-winning sexual abuse lawyer with over 25 years' experience helping survivors secure justice. As a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County, he secured life sentences against countless sexual predators. Mr. Dordulian currently serves on the National Leadership Council for RAINN.
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