UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — A former police officer in Prince George’s County, Maryland has been awarded nearly $400,000 by a federal jury after she accused her lieutenant of sexual assault and subsequent retaliation for reporting it. Kara McMurray testified during the two-week trial in U.S. District Court that after she reported the assault in 2019, she faced bullying and harassment from fellow officers, forcing her to leave the department in 2021.
The former lieutenant, Richard Tallant, was found guilty of a second-degree sex offense in 2019 and sentenced to seven years in prison. However, he appealed the conviction and was granted a new trial. The jury concluded that both Tallant and the police department violated McMurray’s civil rights.
During her testimony, McMurray stated that she initially refrained from reporting the assault in 2017 due to fear of backlash, especially considering Tallant’s popularity within the department. It was only after the department independently learned of the assault in 2019 that internal affairs detectives launched an investigation and suspended Tallant without pay.
According to McMurray’s attorneys, she endured a culture of retaliation and fear within the department, as whistleblowers were not supported during patrol calls. They argued that McMurray’s civil rights were violated on multiple counts, including false imprisonment, battery, denial of equal protection, and deprivation of liberties.
The jury ruled in favor of McMurray on all 14 counts and ordered Tallant to pay her $185,000, with the county paying an additional $200,000 for the distress she experienced. McMurray’s attorneys anticipate that she will receive further compensation for economic damages in a later hearing.
McMurray expressed that her fight was never about the money but rather about vindicating her name after enduring years of harassment. She hopes that her case will bring about changes in the police department to protect whistleblowers and address the institutional problems of retaliation.
The county’s attorneys argued that they prosecuted Tallant when they learned of the assault and that department leaders were unaware of the retaliation against McMurray. However, McMurray’s attorneys asserted that the transfer to a unit she didn’t want and the investigation were insufficient in stopping the ostracizing behavior.
McMurray emphasized the need for the department to take the verdict seriously and implement necessary changes in training and discipline to ensure the safety and support of those who speak up. She hopes that her experience will prevent others from enduring similar treatment.
As part of the lawsuit, McMurray did not request “injunctive relief,” meaning the verdict alone does not mandate specific changes in department practices. However, she remains hopeful that the department will prioritize addressing the institutional culture that allowed retaliation to occur.