AURORA, Colo.—A second police officer involved with a program aimed at helping children stay off drugs has been arrested on suspicion of sexual exploitation of children.
Aurora police on Monday announced the arrest of Michael Mangino, 50, who is accused of taking sexually explicit photos of a 15-year-old runaway who had been arrested. Mangino turned himself in earlier in the day on suspicion of felony counts of sexual exploitation of a child, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and a misdemeanor charge of official misconduct.
The 29-year veteran and former officer for DARE—Drug Awareness Resistance Education—was released on $20,000 bond. A woman who answered the phone at his home declined to comment.
“I knew the officer personally, and obviously, this is not something that anybody expected,” Chief Daniel Oates said during a news conference. “He was a revered and respected member of the department and it’s very, very hard for all of us.”
The department’s DARE program coordinator, Sgt. Morgan Sellman, 39, was arrested Dec. 17 in El Paso County south of Denver on suspicion of sexual exploitation of children following a child pornography investigation. Sellman, a 14-year veteran with the department, did not deal directly with children, police said.
Aurora police spokeswoman Cassidee Carlson called both officers’ involvement with the DARE program a coincidence.
“This isn’t about the DARE program, this is about two rogue officers who were involved with this program,” said Carlson, adding that the department is committed to the nine-week program that’s presented to fifth graders.
Oates said Mangino’s charges stem for contact he had with the young girl March 9. After the girl came forward, Oates said investigators found pictures of the girl on Mangino’s personal cellphone.
Investigators also found a sex video showing Mangino with adult females that may have been made while on duty, and an inappropriate photograph of a girl taken in a classroom, possibly during a DARE class, Oates said. Investigators were looking into possible criminal charges for those two incidents.
While there’s no evidence that there are other victims, Oates said his department has contacted principals at six elementary schools where Mangino worked with children through the DARE program.
Dianne Lewis, a spokeswoman with Aurora Public Schools, where Mangino taught at four schools, said a public meeting is planned with parents Tuesday night.
