An Erie, Colorado man is behind bars after investigators say they discovered multiple digital files depicting sexual exploitation of a child at his home.

Richard Sackschewsky, 34, of Erie was arrested through a joint-agency effort and charged on Tuesday for possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.

According to a Boulder County Sheriff’s Office press release, a search warrant was executed at Sackschewsky’s home on Nov. 16 in the 1600 block of Meachum Way, where investigators seized multiple electronic devices. Later after recovering those devices, digital forensic analysis of them led to the discovery of multiple files that were found in violation of sexual exploitation of a child.

Investigators originally received a tip from Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force regarding information it had gained about the distribution of child sex material from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Sackschewsky was booked into the Boulder County Jail on an arrest warrant with no bond. He faces charges for sexual exploitation of a child-distribution and two different levels of charges for sexual exploitation of a child-possession.

Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, Boulder Police Department, Longmont Department of Public Safety, Boulder County S.W.A.T. Team and Erie Police Department were all involved in this investigation.   

If you suspect a child is being sexually exploited online, you can report it online or by calling 1-800-THE-LOST.  

After an internal investigation, four sergeants and one officer are no longer with the Erie Police Department. The chief didn’t reveal any details about the internal investigation but did say the misconduct was not criminal in nature. 

Here is the entire statement by Erie Police Chief Lee Mathis: 

Town of Erie Community Members,

I am Chief Lee Mathis of the Erie Police Department, and I am here today to address a difficult and concerning matter. I recently became aware of incidents involving misconduct by some members of our department while on duty.  This misconduct was not criminal in nature however, it did not reflect the values of our department and could have been damaging to our work environment.  In such personnel matters I cannot divulge details.  One thing I can say is, our police department would never condone, tolerate, or dismiss the behavior of these officers.

An Internal Investigation was conducted, and appropriate disciplinary measures have been taken against those found to be in violation of our standards. We recognize that accountability is crucial for maintaining the public’s trust. and will always hold our officers and staff to a high standard.  We still have adequate staffing to ensure a timely response to all calls for service and will be moving to fill vacant positions as quickly as possible.  It is imperative to stress that if a staff member’s actions do not align with our department’s standards, this is not the place for them. We are resolute in our commitment to our values and will always ensure the individuals who police our community reflect those values.  I am grateful for the many officers on our department who do their best to serve our community, honorably, every day.    

As a member of this community, I want you all to know our police department is dedicated to fostering a professional, respectful, and safe working environment for all. Our duty is to uphold the trust you place in us and to protect and serve this Town.  

Thank you for your understanding, and I assure you that we will continue to strive for excellence in our service to the Town of Erie.

According to the Erie Police Department, an internal investigation began on Oct. 10 stemming from an internal complaint of misconduct. The misconduct occurred while on duty and involved four sergeants and one officer. None of them are still employed with the department. 

The police chief said the misconduct was not criminal in nature and did not involve any member of the public.

A Medina Alert that was issued out of Greeley by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation has been canceled after a vehicle allegedly involved in a crime was located.

Police said a male cyclist was struck and killed in Greeley at 8th Avenue approaching 24th Street early Monday morning. They said an SUV struck the cyclist and then drove off.

Greeley police said on Tuesday morning that their investigation into the crime is ongoing. There’s no word so far on whether they have a suspect or person of interest identified in the case.