Suspended Officer Enters Guilty Plea

A suspended Prince George’s County Police Officer entered a guilty plea today to two counts of misconduct in office and four counts of visual surveillance with prurient intent.

Police Officer First Class James Sims has been suspended with pay since June when he was accused of taking inappropriate pictures of women while on-duty during traffic stops and while off-duty. 

The Department immediately initiated an Internal Affairs investigation upon learning of the allegations and brought the findings to the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Police Chief Hank Stawinski issued this statement following the guilty plea:

“The Police Department derives its authority to enforce the law from the community. Therefore, violations of the community’s trust are the most serious infractions a police officer can commit. I would like to apologize to the community, but, also, to reassure our residents that this has been taken extraordinarily seriously as a form of corruption.  I have worked with the State’s Attorney, Angela Alsobrooks, to ensure that this individual, who does not represent this institution, is held accountable for his actions.”   

Sims joined the Department in 2010. The administrative process will continue once the court action is complete. Sims is scheduled to be sentenced in court on February 17^th, 2017.    

Anyone who has additional information on this investigation or this officer is asked to please call our Internal Affairs Division at 301-856-2660.