Medal Of Valor-Winning Cop Accused Of Molesting 4 Boys

LOS ANGELES, CA — A Medal of Valor-winning former Los Angeles Police Department officer has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing four children, and authorities believe he may have additional victims.

Police on Monday announced the arrest of Paul Razo, 46, on suspicion of eight counts of lewd acts on a child. Razo, who spent 25 years on the force, is accused of molesting four young boys including two he was related to and two more who were the children of a woman he was dating, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.

Razo faces arraignment Tuesday. He remained jailed in lieu of $2.5 million bail.

With his position of authority, Razo had access to children, and sheriff's officials are asking additional victims to come forward.

"Based on the nature of the allegations and Mr. Razo's access to children, detectives believe there may be additional unidentified victims," sheriff's investigators said in a written release.

LAPD officials referred reporters to the sheriff's Department Monday.

Prior to his arrest, Razo was hailed as a hero officer and awarded the Medal of Valor for saving a man trapped in a burning car in Glendora in 2016.

His position of trust in the community makes the allegations all the more troubling, said District Attorney George Gascón.

“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 Gascón said.

According to the District Attorney's Office, Razo allegedly committed the lewd acts at his home, which sheriff's officials said was in the 4800 block of Brightview Drive in the Covina area.

The children ranged in age from roughly 9 to 13 years old when the alleged abuse began, prosecutors said. The alleged crimes occurred between 2006 and 2017, according to the District Attorney's Office.

"Childhood sexual abuse causes immeasurable harm and our hearts go out to the victims who were victimized by someone they trusted. We will do everything in our power to ensure that they have access to the support and resources they need to heal. Sexual abuse of any kind is a heinous crime and we will not tolerate it in our community."

Sheriff's officials asked anyone with information or who believes they may have been victimized to contact the Special Victims Bureau at 877-710- 5273 or specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org. Anonymous tips can be made through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

City News Service contributed to this report.