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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A former city police officer and one-time university security chief was charged Monday with child endangerment and indecent assault of an 8-year-old girl.</p><p>Investigators say Gerald Cookus, 77, admitted during an interview Monday that he put his hands down the back of the child&#8217;s pants and squeezed and massaged her buttocks at a private residence on April 2. Cookus allegedly told investigators he did it because he believed he was doing the child a favor and &#8220;thought she liked it,&#8221; according to arrest papers.</p><p>The Times Leader does not identify victims of alleged sexual assault.</p><p>Cookus, of Mayock Street, Wilkes-Barre, is charged with indecent assault of a child under than the age of 13 and endangering the welfare of children. Court records show he was arraigned Monday evening before District Judge John E. Hasay and was released on $25,000 bail.</p><p>Cookus previously served as a Wilkes-Barre police officer and later as security chief at Wilkes University, records show. Wilkes-Barre Area School Board meeting minutes also show he was hired by unanimous vote as a security greeter at Solomon/Plains Junior High School at the Nov. 6, 2013, regular monthly meeting.</p><p>According to the affidavit:</p><p>The victim&#8217;s mother told investigators she witnessed Cookus on April 2 with his hand on the outside of the victim&#8217;s pants and that he was &#8220;flickering&#8221; her genitals with his right hand. She then witnessed Cookus place both of his hands under the victim&#8217;s pants and grab/spank her buttocks.</p><p>The victim on Monday told a forensic interviewer Cookus put his hands down the back of her pants and touched her buttocks with his hands. The victim stated the touching occurred multiple times and described the contact as &#8220;soft spanking.&#8221;</p><p>Cookus was interviewed at his home, where investigators say he admitted touching the child&#8217;s buttocks and further stated he had done so on multiple occasions. Cookus denied ever touching the victim&#8217;s genitals. He then told investigators he believed the charges would &#8220;ruin his life and career as a law enforcement officer.&#8221;</p><p>Investigators say Cookus admitted to &#8220;other inappropriate behavior,&#8221; but did not specify whether they involved the same victim.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Cookus </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_CookusMug-3.jpg</photo0><caption0>Cookus </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Gerald Cookus also worked as a security greeter at a junior high</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Former W-B cop, university security chief charged with child sex abuse