Former Madison Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

Published on May 26, 2016

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Chief Darren P. Dachisen of the Borough of Madison Police Department announce that Chad Rybka, age 33, of Bernards Township, New Jersey, pled guilty today to one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child Possession of Child Pornography, a crime of the third degree.

On February 23, 2016, law enforcement officers in the Brunswick Division of Police, Brunswick, Ohio, learned that a 17 year old girl was using a Twitter account to communicate with an adult male and that she sent nude images of herself to the male at his request. The investigation determined that the adult male in question was Chad Rybka, and that he had been communicating with the 17 year old girl over a period of approximately four (4) to six (6) months on Twitter's messenger application. The Brunswick Division of Police reported the matter to the Madison Police Department, who immediately advised the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. A subsequent investigation led by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit determined that Rybka was in possession of a number of nude images of the victim.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Rybka resigned employment as a Madison Borough Police Officer and is also required to forfeit future public employment.

At the time of his resignation, Rybka had been employed as a police officer with the Department since August 2007.

Chief Darren Dachisen of the Borough of Madison Police Department stated: The Madison Police Department immediately contacted the Morris County Prosecutor's Office and cooperated fully in their investigation upon learning of Officer Rybka's misconduct. The Madison Police Department also immediately suspended Officer Rybka and has accepted his resignation of employment effective immediately. The Madison Police Department has been proudly serving the Borough of Madison since 1890 and has zero tolerance for any police officer misconduct that adversely effects the Borough's reputation or the integrity of the Police Department. Chief Dachisen added that The actions of one individual does not define our agency and the outstanding work my officers do on a daily basis.

The Honorable Thomas J. Critchley, J.S.C., presided over the plea.

Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the Borough of Madison Police Department, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office's Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit, High Tech Crimes Unit, and Professional Standards Unit, the Morris County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Section, and the Brunswick (Ohio) Division of Police, whose combined efforts contributed to the investigation and resolution of this matter.

Inquiries concerning this Media Release should be directed to Agent Paul Merkler at pmerkler@co.morris.nj.us or (973) 285-6215.