Officer indicted after allegedly taking upskirt photo of officer, other females

An officer with Prince George's County was indicted for allegedly taking photos up the skirts of unsuspecting women, including an off-duty officer.

Officer James Sims was indicted on four counts of visual surveillance with prurient interest and two counts of misconduct in office. Sims joined the police department in 2010. He's assigned to the Bureau of Patrol, District I. He was suspended in June.

According to Prince George's County officials, in June, Sims allegedly took an upskirt photo of a woman at a Sports Authority store in Bowie. The woman, who turned out to be an off-duty officer, chased Sims out of the store before he allegedly jumped into his Prince George's County police cruiser and drove away. D.C. police confirmed on Thursday that the woman was one of their female officers.

Police Chief Hank Stawinski released the following statement:

"We immediately took this case to the State's Attorney's Office in anticipation of criminal charges being placed against POFC Sims. I find the conduct alleged to be disgusting. Policing is an honorable profession. One of service. One built on trust. If proven true, he will have betrayed the trust of this community."

Police said Sims also took inappropriate photos of female drivers while he was on duty. Two happened during traffic stops, one at a Chipotle and another at a Sports Authority.

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