A Sergeant from the Montgomery County Police Department, Mark Burhoe, has been charged with several counts of possession of child pornography. This alarming news comes after Burhoe, a 16-year veteran of the force, was arrested by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. He has since been suspended without pay.
The investigation was initiated following a cybertip reported by Synchronoss, a cloud-based storage provider associated with Verizon Cloud. The tip indicated that a user of their service was in possession of child pornography, highlighting five files detailing videos of children in vulnerable age groups, with some as young as six years old.
Once investigators linked the account to Burhoe, a search warrant was executed for the period spanning from August 16, 2024 to February 16, 2025. During the search, not only were explicit files recovered, but two additional files not included in the initial tip also emerged. Of concern to investigators was the discovery of images featuring a marked vehicle belonging to the Montgomery County Police Department, prompting verification of Burhoe’s employment with the department.
Burhoe was apprehended on July 10 at the department’s headquarters, where he reportedly expressed concerns about losing his job. The Montgomery County Police Department has addressed these serious allegations, stating, “These allegations are deeply troubling, and the alleged actions of one individual do not represent the entire department. Maintaining public trust remains a priority, and the department is committed to transparency and professionalism throughout this process.”
This case underscores the ongoing issue of child exploitation and the importance of vigilance in law enforcement. The department’s response indicates a commitment to addressing the situation with integrity, ensuring that accountability is upheld.