Crime20 July, 20263 min read
Bucks County DA Joe Khan Charges Ryan Gaffney With Photographing Naked Prisoners
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Ryan Gaffney photographed naked prisoners and circulated images to coworkers. He was fired and charged with official oppression and possession of an instrument of crime.
Photos, charges, and dates
Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan said former Bucks County deputy sheriff Ryan Gaffney used his personal cell phone to photograph naked prisoners on at least two separate occasions and then lied to investigators, after authorities accused him of taking the photos while on duty.
“These are allegations, not facts, and we look forward to answering them where they belong, in a courtroom.”
Khan said the investigation found that on Jan. 30, 2026, Gaffney covered his body-worn camera with his hand, pulled out his personal cellphone, opened the camera app, and pointed the lens at a man suffering a mental health crisis who was naked from the waist down while trying to put on pants.
The DA’s office said Gaffney was charged Monday with official oppression, unsworn falsification to authorities, possessing an instrument of crime, and obstructing the administration of law or other government function, and that a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 10.
Fox 29 Philadelphia reported that Gaffney, 46, of Feasterville, was hired in 2023, was placed on administrative leave the day the complaint was received, and was terminated last month, while the charges were connected to a January 2026 search warrant involving Gaffney and other officers.
Gaffney’s attorney Ryan Lang said in a statement that "These are allegations, not facts, and we look forward to answering them where they belong, in a courtroom."
Bodycam, “in jest,” and concealment
Prosecutors described one incident at the Bucks County Criminal Justice Center where Khan said Gaffney showed a photograph of a man’s genitals to female employees in the office.
Khan said, "In this building, in the Bucks County Criminal Justice Center, Mr. Gaffney showed that photograph of this man’s genitals to female employees in the office," and he added that other deputies’ body cameras captured the moments as Gaffney covered his camera.
In a second case, the DA’s office said investigators found a similar photo from December 2024, and TAPinto Doylestown reported that a forensic examination of Gaffney’s cellphone uncovered a second photograph taken on Dec. 26, 2024.
TAPinto Doylestown also said prosecutors allege Gaffney shared that December 2024 image with 12 personal contacts over four separate dates and that he denied using his personal cellphone to photograph or distribute the January 2026 image during a voluntary administrative interview on April 6 with Sheriff Daniel Ceisler and investigators.
Khan said the evidence showed Gaffney thought the conduct was "funny" and that "it erodes the public trust that thousands of honest public servants work daily to preserve," as he framed the alleged acts as humiliation and concealment.
Next steps and who is affected
The DA’s office said the charges were filed via summons and that Gaffney is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 10, 2026, after Bucks County Detectives launched an investigation on March 31 following a referral from the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office.
Bucks County (.gov) said the case stemmed from an investigation launched by Bucks County Detectives on March 31, 2026, after receiving a referral from the Sheriff’s Office, which commenced a concurrent internal affairs investigation following a complaint regarding Gaffney’s on-duty conduct.
NBC10 Philadelphia reported that Gaffney was fired in June from the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office and that officials announced the charges against him during a press conference on Monday, July 20.
In court filings described by New Hope Free Press, investigators said Gaffney provided a signed, written statement denying that he used his phone for anything other than texting his wife during a voluntary administrative interview on April 6, and that a court-ordered forensic search later found both images remained active on his device.
Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan said, "The people of Bucks County must be able to trust that those sworn to protect them will respect their basic rights and dignity at all times," and he added that the office would continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute official misconduct.