Reserve Hartford police officer arrested

Credit: Geneva County Jail

Robert P Cook

By: Matt Elofson | Dothan Eagle
Published: July 27, 2010
Updated: July 28, 2010 - 8:44 AM

A Hartford reserve police officer faces multiple felony charges after investigators charged him with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl.

Investigators with the Hartford Police Department arrested Robert Price Cook last week, but the Dothan Eagle learned Tuesday that Cook serves as a reserve officer with the Hartford Police Department. Hartford police said Monday that Cook was charged with felony second-degree rape, felony second-degree sodomy and felony enticing a child for immoral purposes.

Assistant Geneva County District Attorney Stephen Smith said Cook serves as a member of the Hartford Rescue Squad, along with his reserve police duties.

Hartford Police Chief Ben Berry could not be reached for comment to determine whether Cook's status as a volunteer police officer has changed.

Smith said Cook, 42, of Geneva County Road 69, in Hartford, remained held at the Geneva County Jail on Tuesday. Court records show he's held without bond. Smith said the sexual assaults allegedly started happening earlier this year during the month of February with a 15-year-old girl.

"He was charged with enticing her into the rescue building," Smith said. "He did entice her to go there for the purpose of committing a sexual act, and that did involve the rescue squad building. He was taking advantage of her age, and he was using her."

Smith said he could not specifically comment on where the rape and sodomy acts happened. He also said Cook knew the victim, and that they were acquaintances. He called the allegations part of an ongoing investigation with the possibility of more charges pending.

Cook faces two to 20 years in prison if convicted of the rape and sodomy charges, which are class B felony crimes. He also faces one to 10 years in prison if he's convicted of the enticing a child charge, a class C felony crime.

"What's most troubling was he was a respectable person in the community based on his job as a reserve police officer and at the rescue squad," Smith said. "I think that is the base of this, it's a very bad breach of trust. He'll be entitled to his day in court."

Reserve Hartford police officer arrested

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