Illinois police officer charged with possessing child pornography

SALEM, Wis. — An Illinois police officer residing in Wisconsin was charged Thursday with 10 counts of possessing child pornography.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force led the investigation. The following agencies provided valuable assistance: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office; Ontario Provincial Police; Tower Lakes Police Department (Illinois); Prairie Grove Police Department (Illinois); and, Lake County Sheriff’s Office (Illinois).

On May 27, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mark A. Paglini residence in Salem, Wisconsin.

Paglini was later arrested and booked in the Kenosha County Jail.

As in any criminal proceeding, Paglini is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This is an ongoing investigation; anyone with information is encouraged to call the HSI Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 25,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child exploitation material, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2019, more than 3,500 child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page. HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.