Ex Philly Cop Sexually Assaulted Young Girls, Threatened Witnesses: DA

PHILADELPHIA — A former Philadelphia Police officer has been charged in connection with the sexual assault of young girls, witness retaliation, threats, harassment, and stalking, authorities said Friday.

Retired Philadelphia Police officer Patrick Heron, 52, of Philadelphia, has been charged with unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years old, corruption of minors, endangering the welfare of children, unlawful use of a computer, retaliation, harassment, and related crimes.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said the charges stem from a "slew of offenses" related to unlawful sexual contact with young girls, sexual photography of young girls, and retaliation against witnesses, both adults and children.

Krasner said the allegations against Heron are some of the worst he's ever seen from a former law enforcement official.

"This not only about terrible conduct," he said. "It's also about a pretty terrible effort at cover up, intimidation, and abuse of pretty much every process you can imagine."

Heron is accused of trying to groom or coerce young female victims to send him photos through messages and incorrectly identifying himself as a working police officer when he was retired.

Additionally, authorities allege he used electronic messages to threaten and intimidate children and adults who tried to report him.

An unnamed Philadelphia public school was involved in the case, with Krasner saying one or more persons related to the school were retaliated against or intimidated by Heron.

When asked if Heron was working as security at the school, Kranser declined to comment and also decline to comment when asked if Heron was employed when he was taken into custody Wednesday.

"This is every parent's nightmare, this is every teacher's nightmare," he said. "You've got a guy born in 1969 going after little kids, young teens. This is awful conduct at every level."

Following execution of several search warrants, District Attorney's Office Detectives found on accounts and devices associated with Heron electronic messages of a sexual nature with girls, electronic messages of a menacing and threatening nature with witnesses, and attempts to fabricate criminal allegations against witnesses and to hack into their social media accounts, the DA's office said.

Nude and non-consensual photographs of teenage or younger girls were also recovered by detectives, according to the DA's office.

Krasner said authorities believe there may be more victims and witnesses who have not come forward.

Any potential additional victims or witnesses are asked to contact the District Attorney's Special Investigations Unit at DAO_SIU@phila.gov 215-686-9608, Kranser said.

Heron retired from the department in 2019, Krasner said, but added the investigation is looking into his conduct of a "significant period of time."

Survivors of sexual assaults are urged to get help from WOAR Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence by calling 215-985-3333.

Heron is being held on $2 million bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 4, court records show.