CUMBERLAND — Former Cumberland Police Department Capt. James Burt “regularly physically assaulted younger female officers” within the department, according to an 11-count criminal indictment returned by an Allegany County grand jury.
Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III said Friday that charges against Burt included six counts of misconduct in office, four counts of second-degree assault and one count of fourth-degree sex offense, all misdemeanors.
According to charging documents, Burt applied various pain compliance pressure points to the female officers while they were working. Pain compliance pressure points target nerve bundles and sensitive areas to cause pain, for the purpose of garnering compliance from a noncompliant suspect, typically during an arrest. The techniques were taught to Burt during defense tactics trainings, the prosecutor’s office said.
Burt allegedly assaulted three female officers of the department by applying these pressure points to them on various occasions, according to the indictment.
Charging documents also allege that Burt assaulted a former city officer on two different occasions after she left the department to join the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office.
He is also alleged to have approached one of the victims in the stairwell at Cumberland Police Department headquarters, kissing her neck in a sensual manner without her consent.
“Supervisors of law enforcement agencies are vested with significant powers to discharge their important duties and lead their departments,” Howard said. “Our office will continue to investigate and where appropriate prosecute any allegations that a police officer abused those powers by victimizing subordinate members of the very department they were entrusted to lead.”
Maryland State Police oversaw the investigation, according to a release from Howard’s office.
Burt was indicted in December and his name has been removed from the department’s website.
On Dec. 29, City Administrator Jeff Silka wrote via email, “this is a personnel matter and I will not make any comments in regards to this matter.”
Newly appointed city police Chief James Pyles did not return a request for comment.
Burt, a Cumberland native, joined the department in 2002 and was appointed to the rank of captain in 2021, serving as second in command.