Former part-time cop wanted on child rape charges killed in shootout with police near St. Joe’s

BALA CYNWYD, Pa. (WPVI) — A former police officer wanted on child rape charges was killed during a shootout with police near the campus of Saint Joseph’s University, authorities said.

Investigators said the former part-time officer opened fire when police approached him while serving a warrant in Bala Cynwyd on Wednesday morning.

The shooting happened on the unit block of Old Lancaster Road.

The man was identified as 38-year-old Francis Collier, who had most recently served as a part-time officer with the Morton Borough Police Department.

Officials said he had been on leave while under investigation and resigned from the department in December.

According to the district attorney’s office, officers observed Collier getting into his car around 3:48 a.m. near Old Lancaster and Edge Hill roads, and confronted him.

Investigators said Collier fired at officers, who returned fire, fatally wounding him.

Police remained at the scene throughout the morning, searching for shell casings and towing a Jeep Grand Cherokee that Collier was in at the time of the confrontation.

Morton Borough police said Collier was placed on leave immediately after the investigation into him began.

Sources said the investigation started in December, when an adult female family member reported to Upper Darby police that Collier had raped her as a child between 15 and 20 years ago.

The case was later turned over to the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office, which charged Collier with rape on Tuesday.

Sources also said that while serving in law enforcement, Collier had been assigned to the Delaware County Child Abuse and Exploitation Task Force.

The Montgomery County Detective Bureau is handling the investigation into the fatal shooting.