A former Pennsylvania deputy sheriff faces criminal charges after authorities said he secretly photographed naked men in his custody, distributed the images, and lied to investigators.
Ryan Gaffney, 46, was charged on July 20 following an investigation by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. Gaffney was terminated from his position at the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office in June.
According to prosecutors, the criminal investigation began in the spring after the sheriff’s office received a tip. Investigators allege that on January 30, Gaffney and four other deputies executed an arrest warrant at the home of a man experiencing a mental health crisis.
Prosecutors said Gaffney covered his department-issued body camera and used his personal cellphone to photograph the man, who was naked from the waist down.
Authorities said body camera footage captured by another deputy in the room showed Gaffney pointing his phone’s camera lens directly at the man.
Investigators also allege that in December 2024, Gaffney sent a photograph of a different naked, handcuffed male prisoner to 12 personal contacts.
During a voluntary administrative interview on April 6, Gaffney allegedly made false verbal statements and signed a written statement denying that he used his personal cellphone to take or share the January 30 photo.
“I want to be clear. Mr. Gaffney’s conduct is a disgrace. It is a betrayal of the trust that was placed in him by the Sheriff and by the taxpayers,” Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan said. “The people of Bucks County must be able to trust that those who are sworn to protect them will respect their basic rights and dignity at all times, especially when they are at their most vulnerable.”
Gaffney’s defense attorney, Paul Lang, issued a statement responding to the allegations.
“Ryan Gaffney is a veteran and father who has spent his life serving his country and his community through law enforcement,” Lang said. “As is often true in cases involving law enforcement, there is far more to this case than the one-sided narrative that has been presented to the public. Ryan deserves the same presumption of innocence and due process guaranteed to every citizen, and we look forward to presenting the full facts before the court.”
Gaffney’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 10.
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