Albany Police Employee Charged with Child Sexual Abuse

We’ve all been taught to believe and trust people who work in law enforcement, but that is not always what we should do. Members of the community learned the hard way in Albany.

On October 8, 2020, New York State Police arrested 49 year-old, Mark Trudeau and charged him with attempting to have sexual acts with a minor.

Although the Colonie resident is not a sworn police officer, he did work for the Albany Police Department as a janitor. Everyone who works for any police department is required to have a full background check, that is why his arrest is so significant.

According to Times Union, Trudeau was under investigation and he made contact with a state police officer who was posing as a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy.

Trudeau is accused of disseminating indecent material to a minor, possessing a sexual performance by child, and promoting a sexual performance by a child. He was arrested and arraigned in Menands Village Court.

A spokesperson for the Albany Police Department, Officer Steve Smith, says that Mr. Trudeau has been suspended without pay. He said, “We were informed that a non-sworn employee at the Albany Police Department was arrested last week following an investigation by another law enforcement agency. The non-sworn employee works in a custodial role at the police department which has no contact with members of the public. The employee was immediately suspended without pay and we are fully cooperating with the investigating agency.“

It’s understandable, and a good thing, that Mr. Trudeau had no contact with the public as an employee of the police department. I hope this is a lesson for all police departments. They must make sure that they do a thorough background check on all potential employees.

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