Former JCPD reserve officer charged, accused of not reporting child sex abuse
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A former reserve officer for the Jefferson City Police Department was charged in relation to a child sex abuse case, according to court documents.
Christina Garza, 49, of Jefferson City, was charged on Monday with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and failure of a mandated reporter to report child abuse. She is not listed on the Cole County Jail roster. A warrant was issued for Garza and no bond was set.
Garza has a valid peace officer’s license but is not commissioned by any Missouri law enforcement, according to an email from Missouri Department of Public Safety spokesman Mike O’Connell. A spokesperson for the Jefferson City Police Department was not available on Monday afternoon. Court documents say Garza was also a full-time police officer from 2015-21.
Bryan Klempke, of Jefferson City, was charged with first-degree sex abuse and incest. He was not listed on the Cole County Jail roster. A warrant was issued for his arrest and no bond was set.
Court documents say that police were called on Feb. 28 for a report of two incidents regarding Klempke, one being sexual abuse and the other was an allegation of domestic abuse. JCPD had requested the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control to investigate.
On March 11, MSHP was assigned to investigate the allegation. Court documents stated the child victim told Garza they were sexually assaulted on Jan. 1. Garza then allegedly threatened the child.
The Callaway County Children’s Division reported to investigators that it received a tip on Feb. 24, court documents say. The person who spoke with law enforcement allegedly was told about Klempke’s alleged sex abuse by Garza. Garza allegedly told that person that they didn’t report the assault because she owed him $30,000.
On March 22, the child victim allegedly told MSHP investigators about alleged sexual assaults that occurred in the summer of 2023. Garza had also allegedly told investigators on April 1 that she was assaulted by Klempke at her residence on Jan. 1, court documents say. The child allegedly told Garza about the sexual assault the same day, court documents claim.
