CUMBERLAND — The city’s new police chief was sworn in Tuesday.
LaVale resident James “Jimmy” Pyles has more than 40 years of public safety experience that includes work for the Maryland State Police and the Combined Criminal Investigations Unit.
Most recently, he served as director of the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services from which he resigned last year.
Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss said he and Pyles, in 2019, discussed an upcoming retirement of the police chief at that time, and that the position would be vacant.
“Then the county stole him away from me,” Morriss said of Pyles taking the DES job. “It took me a while, but we got our man.”
Pyles succeeds Chuck Ternent, who retired in July after serving the police department in various capacities since 1992 and was appointed chief in 2020.
Cumberland Police Lt. Eric Bonner served as acting chief after Ternent’s departure.
As chief, Pyles has a three-year contract that automatically renews annually.
His salary is $135,000 per year with annual cost-of-living adjustments.
Cumberland will contribute $9,000 per year to a 401(a) deferred compensation plan for Pyles.
“The city authorizes Pyles to keep an assigned police vehicle at his residence for commuting and reasonable personal use,” the contract states.
He can be terminated for causes that include taking action “to damage the city’s image in the eyes of its citizens,” it states.
Pyles spoke at Tuesday’s mayor and City Council meeting.
“My career started here,” he said.
“It’s gonna end here.”
Pyles worked at the MSP Cumberland barrack after he graduated from the police academy in 1989, and two years later transferred to the Allegany County Narcotics Task Force.
“My first (undercover) hand-to-hand buy was … on Mechanic Street,” he said. “I was growing my hair long, I had my ears pierced three times.”
That plan involved Pyles getting arrested for his purchase of crack cocaine.
“I was placed in the cell right over here,” he said.
Pyles said he’s given talks at various venues across the state.
“There’s not a county … in Maryland where I haven’t touched someone’s life,” he said. “One life, one day, we’re gonna change the city of Cumberland.”