TUSCALOOSA, AL — In a significant development, a digital messenger application has taken the lead in reporting serious allegations involving a local police officer. According to court documents obtained by Patch, the app, MeetMe Inc., which is widely utilized for online dating, notified authorities about sexually explicit communications involving children. This action aligns with the company’s commitment to its terms of service and highlights its role in safeguarding vulnerable populations.
Details of the Investigation
The deposition filed in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court reveals that on or around September 25, 2024, MeetMe initiated a cyber tip to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, specifically concerning child sex trafficking. The report included a digital file containing a chat log and transcript that ultimately led investigators to Burcham, a patrol officer with the Tuscaloosa Police Department (TPD) since January 2019, who resigned just last week.
The transcript allegedly depicts Burcham soliciting child sexual abuse material multiple times during the conversation, with graphic requests that included explicit references to minors, one notably mentioning an 11-year-old girl. Following this alarming discovery, a subpoena was issued to Charter Communications to trace the IP address linked to the app’s login activity, which pointed to Burcham’s residence in Northport.
Subsequently, a search warrant was executed on Burcham’s cell phone, leading investigators to recover a disturbing array of graphic images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants and toddlers. This evidence prompted swift action from law enforcement.
Response from Law Enforcement
On Monday afternoon, Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley, along with several TPD officers, apprehended Burcham at his home. Chief Blankley expressed the department’s commitment to maintaining public trust, stating, “When we first learned of these allegations last week, we began the necessary procedures that will ensure he never works as a police officer again. We have zero tolerance for actions that undermine the public trust and harm children. The individual involved no longer serves in any capacity with the department.”
Burcham is currently being held in the Tuscaloosa County Jail, where he has been denied bond, as the investigation continues to unfold.
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