A Dallas police officer used the internet at the police department to upload and view sexually explicit images of children.

According to a press release from the United States Department of Justice, Dallas police officer Daniel Lee Collins, 35, has been charged with uploading sexually explicit images of children using the City of Dallas’ employee internet.

Collins works in the police department's auto theft unit and has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of an internal investigation by the department.

“Law enforcement officers take an oath to protect and serve,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox. “This defendant allegedly undermined that vow, preying upon our most vulnerable. The Department of Justice will not tolerate the exploitation of children – especially by our public servants.”

Records show that Collins uploaded sexually explicit photos of children using his Google account at work. Google flagged the photos and alerted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, who in turn filed a Cyber Tipline report to the Dallas Police Department.

An IT specialist with the Dallas Police Department was able to trace the IP address, which linked back to Collins. Investigators interviewed Collins who admitted he had saved child pornography to the Google accounts in question.

Collins is currently facing up to 20 years in federal prison if he is convicted.

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