PHILADELPHIA -- A veteran police officer sexually assaulted an underage girl at least three times and had other sexual contact with her, police charged Tuesday.
Narcotics Officer Thomas Gitto was 36 and the victim 14 when the assaults began, Chief Inspector William Colarulo said. They occurred when the officer was off-duty, although one attack took place in a police trailer, he said.
Gitto, 40, surrendered yesterday after an 18-month investigation in which detectives gathered corroborating evidence from his home and computer, Colarulo said. The department suspended him without pay for 30 days with the intent to fire him.
Gitto apparently knew one of the girl's relatives, police said. She went to police in November 2005.
Gitto was in custody yesterday and the name of his lawyer was not immediately available.
