A Waterloo police officer who has been charged with having sex with a prisoner has resigned. The resignation of sergeant Richard Knief was announced by the department this morning (Tuesday) by the department. Police officials issued a news release saying that Knief — a Waterloo officer since 1978 — resigned on Friday. The release gave no other details. Knief has been on paid administrative leave since September 30th, when allegations surfaced that he engaged in a sex act with a woman who as a prisoner at the Black Hawk County jail. The incident allegedly happened on September 28th.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation recently completed a three-month probe into the allegations. The investigation concluded earlier this month when the Iowa Attorney General’s office charged Knief with sexual misconduct with an offender. The Attorney General’s office is prosecuting the case to avoid any conflict of interest for local officials.