Policeman Arrested on Child Porn Charges Faces Bond Hearing Friday

Image: William “Bud” Walker (FCPD)

A Fairfax County police spokesman who was arrested on child pornography charges will appear in court Friday for a bond hearing.

William “Bud” Walker, a 15-year veteran of the force, was charged Wednesday with two counts of possession of child pornography, according to county police. He was taken from police headquarters and jailed at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center in Fairfax City.

A Fairfax resident, Walker has often appeared before the media as a public information officer to give updates on high-profile criminal cases. Now, his own case is creating headlines. Walker has been relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave with pay.

He appeared in court Thursday morning via video arraignment, and his bond hearing was continued to Friday, WUSA-TV Channel 9 reported.

At a news conference Wednesday evening, Police Chief Edwin Roessler said “it greatly upsets me to inform our great community of the arrest of a Fairfax County police officer,” according to WJLA-TV Channel 7.

The chief said the investigation has not found that Walker committed any crimes against children in the area. But detectives are continuing to gather evidence and additional charges are possible. Roessler said the police have created a special hotline for the public to call in tips: (703) 246-7896.

Callers who wish to remain anonymous may provide information through Crime Solvers electronically by visiting www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or by calling 866-411-TIPS(8477).

The investigation of Walker began last July, when the social media site Tumblr tipped off the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that child pornography was uploaded to its server from an email address that police detectives traced to walker’s home in Fairfax, according to court documents.

Under a search warrant executed Wednesday at the officer’s home, detectives seized a desktop computer, a laptop, an iPad, hard drives, thumb drives and cameras.