Sunrise police officer arrested on child pornography charges

SUNRISE — A Sunrise police officer was arrested Saturday on child pornography charges, the department said in a news release.

An Internal Affairs investigation of Carl Haller, 39, began Jan. 30, following allegations that he had viewed child pornography on personal electronic devices, the release states.

Sunrise Police are working with the FBI to forensically examine his devices.

Findings from the investigation gave the police probable cause to arrest Haller on charges of possessing child pornography, intentionally viewing child pornography and tampering with evidence.

Haller is now on administrative leave without pay, according to the release.

He was originally placed on administrative leave with pay Feb. 2, according to a police department memo to Haller.

Since the investigation began Haller has not had any interaction with the public “in any official capacity,” according to the release.

His police identification, badge and firearms were all taken from him.

“We understand this information is very concerning but we want to assure the community that swift action has been taken and the safety of the public is always our top priority,” the release states.

“The actions demonstrated by Haller do not reflect the character and professionalism that is expected of the men and women of this agency.”

Sunrise police union attorney Robert Buschel will not be representing Haller in the criminal case, Buschel confirmed in a text Saturday

He did not know whether Haller had hired outside counsel.

Haller joined the department in March 2016.

A Florida Department of Law Enforcement record does not show Haller being employed with any other police agency in the state prior to joining the Sunrise Police Department.

He has not previously been disciplined since he was hired in 2016, police department records show. Haller was investigated internally in 2017 for a harassment complaint and in 2018 following a shooting incident.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported in August 2018 that Sunrise officers fatally shot Karl Nilsen, 33, who was armed, while responding to a domestic disturbance.

Haller was exonerated in both earlier internal affairs cases.

He was booked into Broward County Main Jail on Saturday.

The Sunrise Police Department encourages anyone that may have any information about the case to contact the department at 954-809-4540.