Local Cop Arrested On Child Porn Charge In Hamden: UPDATE

HAMDEN, CT — The Hamden man accused of possessing more than 1,400 images of child pornography is a member of the North Branford Police Department, according to multiple reports. Anthony DeLuise, 58, was arrested Dec. 31 by Hamden Police on a warrant. Authorities launched an investigation into the child pornography case in January of 2018, according to Hamden Police Sgt. Anthony Diaz.

NBC Connecticut reports DeLuise is a sergeant in the patrol division of the North Branford Police Department and has been absent from his position since Feb. 14, 2018 and hasn’t been on the active duty roster since that time.

Hamden Police executed a search-and-seizure warrant at DeLuise’s home on Sebec Street on July 24. Diaz said police seized multiple storage media devices, including computers, and 1,424 still image and movie files of suspected child pornography were found on the devices. Det. Shawn Nutcher of the Computer Crimes Unit subsequently submitted an arrest warrant application to Meriden Superior Court for DeLuise that was approved, according to Diaz.

Deluise, 58, of Sebec Street, was arrested Dec. 31 at police headquarters and charged with first-degree possession of child pornography. He was released after posting a court-ordered $25,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Meriden Superior Court on Jan. 8.

The North Branford Police Department has launched an internal investigation, according to WTNH News 8.

In a statement to WFSB 3, North Branford Police Chief James Lovelace said the charges against DeLuise are “disturbing and troublesome, however, they are the actions of a single person and do not reflect the behavior of the dedicated men and women of the NBPD."

Note: DeLuise has pleaded not guilty and his next court date is Jan. 23, 2020, according to state judicial records.