Former Suburban Cop, Chicago Heights Man Faces Child Porn Charges

COOK COUNTY, IL — A Chicago Heights man and former Dixmoor police officer faces multiple child pornography charges following an investigation by the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit, which found several pornographic images and videos of children under the age of 13 on his cellphone, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced Friday.

The ICAC Unit received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about child pornography found on an email account. ICAC investigators obtained search warrants and were able to identify the email belonged to Tory Bridgeforth, 37, of Chicago Heights.

On Jan. 18, Bridgeforth was taken into custody for further investigation. After being issued his Miranda Warning, Bridgeforth told investigators he used his cellphone to view child pornography. A forensic examination of his phone revealed more than 35 sexually explicit images and videos of children as young as 8.

Bridgeforth worked for the Dixmoor Police Department from 2021 to 2022 and the Robbins Police Department in 2019.

On Jan. 19, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved Class 2 felony charges for possession of child pornography videos of victims under 13, possession of child pornography videos of victims under 18, and possession of child pornography images of victims under 18.

Bridgeforth is scheduled to appear in the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse on Saturday, Jan. 21.