Former Granby Police Captain Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Pornography Charge
Operation Constant Vigilance

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DAVID L. BOURQUE, 51, of West Suffield, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty today before Chief United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography.

“Today’s guilty plea by a veteran police officer who possessed and traded tens of thousands of images of child pornography is disturbing, and further reveals that our work to deter the unlawful possession and distribution of child pornography is far from over,” stated U.S. Attorney Fein. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners, including the Connecticut State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation, remain steadfast in our commitment to protect the most vulnerable members of our society by investigating and prosecuting all who engage in the sexual exploitation of children.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, on two occasions in March 2011, a Connecticut State Police trooper assigned to the Connecticut State Police Computer Crimes Unit, acting in an undercover capacity, logged into a publicly available Internet file-sharing program and downloaded several images of suspected child pornography from an account maintained by BOURQUE. On April 11, 2011, members of the Connecticut State Police were given consent to search BOURQUE’s office and work computers at the Granby Police Department, where BOURQUE was employed as a captain. The search of BOURQUE’s office revealed a laptop and other computer components, including an external hard drive, that were personally owned by BOURQUE. These items, most of which were encrypted, were seized pursuant to a state search warrant. The State Police also executed a state search warrant at BOURQUE’s residence.

BOURQUE subsequently met with members of the Connecticut State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation, explained how he had encrypted the hard drive to conceal his collection of child pornography, and provided investigators with passwords required to access his accounts.

Forensic analysis of two laptops, two external hard drives and a media card BOURQUE possessed has revealed approximately 22,282 images and 4,084 videos of child pornography primarily depicting the sexual abuse of prepubescent boys, including toddlers and infants. BOURQUE had organized his child pornography collection in more than 300 subfolders, including those named “photos - babies - men” and “6-10yo boys pics.”

One of the laptops that contained images of child pornography was BOURQUE’s work-issued computer.

“A cooperative investigative effort by all law enforcement involved brought this case to conclusion,” stated Colonel Danny Stebbins of the Connecticut State Police. “The Connecticut State Police will continue to partner with the criminal justice community to ensure that Connecticut’s children and families are protected from individuals who prey upon our youth.”

“The FBI appreciates the opportunity to assist the Connecticut State Police in their investigation,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Kimberly K. Mertz. “The conviction secured today reinforces the commitment and resolve of law enforcement at all levels to investigate and prosecute those who would sexually exploit children.”

Chief Judge Thompson has scheduled sentencing for October 11, 2011, at which time BOURQUE faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Since his arrest on April 26, 2011, BOURQUE has been released on a bond with conditions including that he receive mental health counseling, have no Internet access, have no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18 without first receiving permission from the United States Probation Office, and that he not hold any position of authority or guidance over children or youth groups involving children who are under the age of 18. BOURQUE also must not loiter around schools, playgrounds, arcades, or any other places where children under 18 congregate.

BOURQUE resigned from the Granby Police Department in June 2011.

This case is being investigated by the Connecticut State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ray Miller.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, and the District of Connecticut’s “Operation Constant Vigilance,” which are aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.