'Detective Of The Year' Allegedly Sent Explicit Messages To Decoy He Thought Was Minor Girl

California -- A senior police detective from southern California was accused of exchanging explicit text conversations with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.

The accused, Gregory Daniel Beaumarchais, was reportedly the recipient of the 2019 "Detective of the Year" distinction.

The incident came to light when the impersonator got in touch with the Orange County Crime Stoppers, and informed them about the explicit texts she had received from a person who claimed to be a cop, the New York Post reported.

Beaumarchais, 43, was freed from custody Tuesday after he answered a warrant accusing him of one count of a misdemeanor of annoying or molesting a victim, who is presumed to be under the age of 18.

He had been employed since 2011 by the Santa Ana Police Department, where he was currently on paid leave.

Videos of a "Detective of the year" recognition awarded to Beaumarchais in 2019 were found on the department's social media platforms, Los Angeles Times reported.

The detective was located by Orange County investigators working with Homeland Security Investigations after the impersonator notified the O.C. Crime Stoppers of the messages, according to Law and Crime.

“Today’s filing of criminal charges for showing sexual interest in children shows no one is above the law when it comes to keeping communities free from predators,” Shawn Gibson from the Los Angeles Homeland Security branch said in a press release.

“Police officers are entrusted with the sacred responsibility to safeguard society from harm,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told the Los Angeles Times, “It is beyond disturbing that a sworn police officer would engage in inappropriate conversations with someone he believed to be a child. Our children should not have to worry about being preyed upon by the very people we teach them who are there to protect them.”

Spitzer said that the actions of the law enforcement authorities vastly impact society.

Detectives believe Beaumarchais sent civilian graphic texts to the decoy between December 2021 and January 2022. Beaumarchais is also believed to have set up a second account using a similar social media name, even after his social media platform's service provider banned access to it.

If found guilty, the veteran cop may receive a sentence of up to a year in the Orange County Jail and would have to register as a sex offender.