La Crosse Fire Dept. Division Chief charged with possessing child porn

A City of La Crosse Fire Division Chief faces a charge of possession of child porn.

Francis Devine was given a $5,000 signature bond Wednesday afternoon and will appear back in court in April.

According to the criminal complaint, an officer with the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation got a tip Sunday from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a viewing of a child porn image from a computer in Wisconsin.

It was traced back to Devine.

A separate picture of child porn was found on his computer after a search warrant.

Devine told investigators he searched only for adult pornography, but admitted to being “curious” about child porn and saw multiple images.

He also says he didn’t trade any child porn images, and didn’t talk with anyone online about child pornography.

He has been put on administrative leave.