The 15-year-old “girl” Walsh sought out was actually an undercover officer who had received a series of suggestive and lewd texts from Walsh in answer to a decoy ad on a website—a website “commonly used by individuals who are trafficked and by individuals who want to purchase sex,” according to prosecutors.
Among the alleged texts: “Let’s do this tonight.” “You free tonight?” “Do you like party at all?” Walsh sent other, more explicit messages over a six-week period, and allegedly agreed to pay $200 for sex.
But when Walsh arrived at the meeting location in a gray Dodge Ram truck, he was arrested by law enforcement, who found suspected cocaine in the vehicle, along with a vodka bottle.
“We’ve got to do our best to get people like this out of the police department.”
Arraigned in Charlestown District Court, Walsh is charged with enticement of a child under 16, sexual conduct for a fee with a child, attempted rape of a child, and possession of a Class B drug with intent to distribute.
Walsh pleaded not guilty and has been released on $5,000 bail.
Prosecutors had previously requested bail to be set at $10,000 because “Mr. Walsh was in a position of trust as a police officer in the Fall River Police Department and [was] using that position, while communicating with this undercover officer posing as a child.”
As part of the conditions of his release, Walsh must stay away from all children under 18, keep out of Charlestown except for court appearances, surrender his passport and undergo a substance use evaluation through the probation department. He will next appear in court for a pretrial hearing on May 5.
Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan characterized the case as “very upsetting.”
“It’s not condoned, looked on in any way, shape or form other than something that’s got to be dealt with very, very quickly,” he said. “We’ve got to do our best to get people like this out of the police department.
“Our police are held to a higher standard. People look at them as the ones who are going to prevent cases like this and stop people from preying on other people.”
Walsh had been on paid leave from the police department for substance abuse.
Fall River Police Chief Kelly Furtado released a statement saying: “The conduct alleged is reprehensible and stands in direct opposition to the values we expect from members of this department.”
The coordinated Massachusetts State Police and the Boston Police Human Trafficking Unit anti-trafficking operation targeted sexual exploitation in high-risk neighborhoods.
Massachusetts, like all other US states, is not immune to the buying and selling of human beings for sex, enforced labor and drug trafficking. The state averages 10.78 confirmed human trafficking victims for every 100,000 people. Human trafficking is a $236 billion-a-year industry and, in America, one of the most profitable illegal trades.
When a person sworn to protect and serve can’t make it to even the very lowest rung of human decency, then it’s time to rethink whatever standards are in place for those we trust with our communities.
