Officer Arrested on Child Pornography Charges
A detention hearing is scheduled next week for Michael Harding. The married 27 year old and father of three remains jailed on child pornography charges following his recent arrest.
Federal investigators say Harding, a decorated police officer, shared and downloaded hundreds of sexually explicit videos and images involving children as young as six.
If convicted, He faces up to 20 years in prison.
Port St Lucie Police say they combed through Michael Harding’s life and his past for months before he was hired.
For some, these allegations raise questions about whether this kind of behavior can be spotted before it becomes a problem.
Port Saint Lucie Police Chief John Bolduc says the department put Harding under the microscope before hiring him in 2012. And Police Psychologist Dr George Zaky tells CBS 12 even though testing of officers is thorough, it’s possible to fool the test depending on how smart the person is and what kinds of tests are administered.
