A Bucks County Police officer has been charged with 10 counts of possessing child pornography the Montgmery County District Attorney’s office announced Wednesday.
Matthew Reiss, 47, of Upper Hanover Township, who is an officer with the Hilltown Township Police Department in Bucks County, investigators said.
According to a press release, Detectives were tipped off online regarding images of children sexual abuse within Montgomery County in April connected to a Gmail account. Investigators traced the IP address and phone number which lead them to back to Reiss, prosecutors said.
Credit: Rhiannon Cullaton
Police obtained a search warrant for Reiss’ home and discovered 660 images, 10 of which showed children under the age of 13 being sexually assaulted or in sexual poses, police said.
Bucks County law enforcement officials weighed in as the Reiss’ arrest was announced.
“The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office has cooperated and worked with Montgomery County authorities since being made aware of the investigation into Matthew Reiss. This office protects all victims, even when the accused perpetrator is an officer of the law. We will evaluate all Bucks County criminal cases in which Reiss played role,” said District Attorney Matt Weintraub.
Hilltown Township Police Chief Chris Englehart said “On May 25, 2021, the Hilltown Township Police Department was advised that Officer Matthew Reiss, an 18-year veteran of the Police Department, was arrested by the Montgomery County Bureau of Detectives on charges of Child Pornography. We were angered and shocked at the allegations and are fully cooperating with the investigation. These acts, if true, would be a betrayal of his oath as a Police Officer, the public trust and the trust of his fellow Officers. Officer Reiss has been placed on unpaid Administrative Suspension pending an internal investigation”
Reiss posted bond, 10 percent of $75,000 and was released. He is scheduled to appear for a hearing on June 7 to answer to the charges.