James Diamond, Veteran LAPD Officer, Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

A 25-year veteran Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer has been arrested on child pornography charges.

James Diamond, 52, was apprehended on Wednesday by Long Beach police officers on suspicion of possessing child pornography and distributing obscene images of a minor.

According to the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) statement, detectives first launched their investigation in October last year after its officers received a tip-off.

Diamond was arrested on Wednesday morning outside a store on the 5000 block of Bolsa Avenue, Huntington Beach.

Search warrants were then issued for his home in Long Beach as well as at the LAPD.

The statement, seen by Newsweek, reads: "In October of 2020, detectives from the LBPD's Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding possible online distribution or sharing of sexual abuse material.

"During their investigation, detectives gathered sufficient information to identify the suspect and develop probable cause for an arrest."

The statement added Diamond was booked on two felony counts of possession of child pornography and two felony counts of distribution of obscene matter depicting a minor.

His bail was set at $100,000.

The LBPD continued: "The LAPD's professional standards bureau has been notified of Diamond's arrest and the department will be conducting an administrative investigation."

It added anyone with information is urged to contact the LBPD computer crimes detectives Julie Lacey or Laurie Barajas at (562) 570-7223.Anonymous tips may be submitted through "LA Crime Stoppers" by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477) downloading the "P3 Tips" app or by visiting www.LACrimeStoppers.org.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Capt. Stacy Spell, the LAPD spokesman, said the force is cooperating with and is supportive of the LBPD investigation. The LA Times indicated Diamond had been with the LAPD for 25 years.

Newsweek has contacted the LBPD and LAPD for comment.

Diamond's arrest comes after a former border patrol agent was arrested on suspicion of committing a string of rapes in Arizona two decades ago.

John Daly III, 57, was apprehended by officers in Sierra Vista on Tuesday on suspicion of committing several sexual assaults between July 1999 and October 2001, a spokesperson for the Mesa Police Department said.

Police suspect Daly of having raped eight people in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler and Bisbee. Dubbed the "East Valley serial rapist" by the MPD, officers said they had linked Daly to three crimes after they analyzed DNA samples.

Officers said there were no leads that could be pursued during the initial investigations.