Power, Abuse, And Betrayal: Former Police Captain Indicted On 11 Charges

CUMBERLAND, Md. — A longtime Cumberland Police Department captain has been charged in an 11-count criminal indictment alleging he abused his authority by physically assaulting and sexually victimizing four women, according to court records.

Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III announced Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, that an Allegany County grand jury returned the indictment against James Desales Burt, 52, of Cumberland, charging him with six counts of misconduct in office, four counts of second-degree assault, and one count of fourth-degree sex offense.

Burt has served as a sworn law enforcement officer with the Cumberland Police Department since approximately 2003 and has held the rank of captain since 2021, making him the department’s sole captain and second in command to the chief of police. Prosecutors said Burt also held multiple leadership roles, including acting chief of police, recruitment liaison, and training coordinator, placing him in a supervisory position over all sworn officers within the department.

According to the indictment, beginning no later than 2024, Burt is accused of repeatedly physically assaulting younger female officers by applying “pain compliance” pressure point techniques while they were on duty inside the police department. Those techniques are taught in law enforcement defense tactics training for use on noncompliant suspects during arrests and are designed to cause pain by targeting nerve bundles and sensitive areas.

Prosecutors allege Burt used those techniques on three female officers he supervised, applying pressure points to areas including behind the ear, hands, and wrists without warning or consent.

In one alleged incident detailed in court records, Burt is accused of approaching a subordinate officer inside a stairwell at the department, hugging her, and kissing her neck in a sensual manner without her consent, forming the basis for the fourth-degree sex offense charge.

The indictment further alleges Burt assaulted a former Cumberland police officer on multiple occasions after she left the department and joined the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, including during a public festival in downtown Cumberland and while officers were preparing to execute arrest warrants during a joint law enforcement operation.

Prosecutors also allege Burt committed misconduct toward another female law enforcement officer during a public event by making inappropriate physical contact and comments related to her appearance while encouraging her to apply to the Cumberland Police Department.

Court documents note that Burt completed extensive training in leadership, ethics, sexual harassment prevention, and use-of-force standards, including instruction that force may only be used when necessary and proportional to a legitimate law enforcement objective. Prosecutors allege the conduct violated those standards and constituted an abuse of his supervisory authority.

Court records and prior statements from the Cumberland Police Department indicate Burt was suspended from duty in May 2025 pending the criminal investigation. At that time, he surrendered his department-issued firearm and badge and was no longer working for the department.

“Supervisors of law enforcement agencies are vested with significant powers to discharge their important duties and lead their departments,” Howard said in a statement. “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.”

The Office of the State Prosecutor credited the Maryland State Police for assisting with the investigation and thanked the Cumberland Police Department for its cooperation.

Court records show the grand jury returned the criminal indictment on Dec. 17, 2025.

Burt is scheduled to appear for an initial appearance hearing on Feb. 24, 2026, at 9 a.m. in Allegany County Circuit Court.

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