BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A retired Brighton Township police captain and school resource officer has been charged with possessing child pornography.
Peter James Benedict Jr., 68, of Beaver, is charged with 11 counts of possessing child sexual abuse material and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office said a cyber tip led investigators to Benedict’s home, where they executed a search warrant and found explicit images of children, all appearing to be under the age of 10, on his computer.
Benedict, who retired in 2023, also worked briefly as an interim school resource officer at Dutch Ridge Elementary School in late 2022 and previously served as a D.A.R.E. officer in his capacity at Brighton Township police.
The district sent the following letter to families Wednesday afternoon:
The Beaver Area School District was notified today by local police that now-retired Captain Pete Benedict of Brighton Township Police Department has been arrested and facing charges. He did serve the Beaver Area School district briefly as a School Resource Officer and more extensively as a D.A.R.E. officer.
We understand that news like this can be upsetting to our families and staff, particularly those who may remember his time in our district. While we cannot comment on the details of an ongoing investigation, we are committed to maintaining a safe, trusting environment for all students and staff.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and we are available to speak with parents and families if you have any questions.
Residents are reacting with shock and disbelief to the accusations.
“I was shocked because I’ve known him for a very long time,” Ronald Embaugh said. “The community is probably in shambles because he was part of the community.”
According to the criminal complaint, Benedict told investigators he did not believe the individuals in the images were children, saying, “In my honest opinion, [they] don’t really seem bad.”
“It’s deceitful, and as a police officer, you shouldn’t be deceitful to your community,” Anita Houghs said.
“I truly believe when you get sworn in, you are taking that oath to protect and serve and to carry that out even after you retire,” Embaugh said.
Benedict is currently being held at the Beaver County Jail on $500,000 bond. His family has not commented on the charges.
“To end a career on that note, it’s just scary,” Embaugh said. “It’s scary that it’s happening in a beautiful community like Beaver.”
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