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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: An ex-LAPD officer has been charged with sexually assaulting four boys while he was on the force, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office announced on Monday, May 15. According to a news release from Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, Paul Razo, 46, has been charged with sexually assaulting four boys at his Covina home "during various times between 2006 and 2017."
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in the announcement that Razo was arrested on Wednesday by the special victim bureau detectives. As per the district attorney's office, he was expected to be arraigned on Tuesday, May 16.
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There may be additional victims
The sheriff's department shared the charges in their announcement. They believe there "may be additional unidentified victims" due to the "nature of the allegations and Mr. Razo's access to children." The district attorney shared that the charges in the case "are deeply disturbing" and "particularly troubling" since Razo was employed with the agency until April. Razo served in the department for more than 25 years, the Los Angeles Times reported.
What crimes did he commit?
It has been reported that among the alleged victims, two of them are reportedly Razo's relatives. One is reported to have been 11 or 12 years old when the abuse began, and another was about 13. The district's office attorney said that Razo is also accused of sexually assaulting the sons of a woman he dated. One victim was either 9 or 10 years old when the alleged abuse began and the other was 12. The boys would "often reportedly spend the night at his home" according to the news release.
"Childhood sexual abuse causes immeasurable harm, and our hearts go out to the victims who were victimized by someone they trusted," Gascón said. "We will do everything in our power to ensure that they have access to the support and resources they need to heal. Sexual abuse of any kind is a heinous crime, and we will not tolerate it in our community."
Razo received the LAPD Medal of Valor
In 2018, Razo received the honor after pulling a man out of a burning car while off-duty in July 2016.
Anyone with information tied to the case is asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Special Victims Bureau toll-free tip line at (877) 710-5273 or specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org.
