WASHINGTON – Two Prince George’s County police officers remain suspended after being indicted in separate cases by a grand jury on Thursday.
Officer Charles Pickard is facing charges of assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office, the incidents stemming from when he was on duty on Nov. 12, 2013.
Officer Jerry Thomas also faces charges of misconduct in office. Thomas’ charges stem from incidents that occurred while on duty in late 2012.
Pickard was a school resource officer at Suitland High School and has been charged in relation to an assault of a student.
Thomas is charged in relation to an incident in which a handcuffed suspect was allegedly assaulted inside a jail cell.
The county’s Internal Affairs Division launched an administrative and criminal investigation after learning of the incident through a routine, internal use of force review.
Pickard’s police powers were suspended on Nov. 14, 2013. He remains suspended with pay pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings. Pickard has been employed by the PGPD for six years and was assigned to the Bureau of Patrol.
Like Pickard, Thomas’ issues were discovered following a routine review. When the administrative investigation was complete, it was forwarded to the State’s Attorney’s Office.
Thomas’s police powers were suspended in November 2013. He remains suspended with pay pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
Thomas has been employed by the PGPD for five years and was assigned to the Bureau of Patrol.
“I want to make it clear to our community, that these cases were not brought about as a result of citizen complaints,” Prince George’s County Police Chief Mark Magaw said in a statement. “I want to assure the residents of our county that we are dedicated to transparent and ethical policing.”
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