York police officer charged with raping baby quits as commissioner works to fire him

A York police officer resigned from the department last week, days after he was charged with raping a baby in northern Dauphin County, the city’s police commissioner said.

In an 8-minute Facebook video uploaded Monday, York City police Commissioner Michael Muldrow addressed the situation involving now-former Officer Steven K. Cugini and the child rape charges filed against him on April 16.

Muldrow said the department immediately placed Cugini on paid leave on April 16 after learning of the criminal investigation. He was switched to unpaid leave the following day.

After discovering the extent of the accusations, Muldrow said he went to York’s government leaders and initiated the process of firing Cugini. However, on Friday, Cugini contacted the department and resigned.

Muldrow said his department immediately started reviewing its hiring and screening processes, trying to figure out how “individuals with bad intentions can slip through the cracks.”

“We were at a loss,” he said. “While it’s a hard pill to swallow, we had to recognize at the end of the day you just never truly know what’s in the hearts and minds of people. You just try your best to catch it before, keep an open mind and a vigilant eye during, and be ready and willing to take action after.”

Muldrow said he is also hiring an outside professional to review the department’s hiring practices.

“Let it not be lost on people that every day thousands of us — law enforcement professionals — work with, coach, and cheer on children throughout our communities without ever hurting or taking advantage,” Muldrow said. “But in the same breath, I absolutely offer no excuses for the ones that do.”

Pennsylvania State Police accused Cugini, 28, of York, of inflicting sexual and physical abuse upon a 13-month-old girl whose mother he knew. He was charged with rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child, and aggravated assault after the girl’s daycare center called the police to report “severe bruising” on her face and head.

Medical professionals later discovered the baby had a broken leg in addition to the bruising, and showed signs of having been raped.

After initially blaming the injuries on the family’s dog and a “hard fall” during bathtime, the baby’s mother admitted to state police that she was covering for Cugini, police wrote in court documents.

According to an affidavit written by police, the woman told troopers that she left the 13-month-old girl alone with Cugini for an hour on April 12. She also left Cugini to bathe the girl the following evening. She said she was cooking dinner when she heard “loud, repeated pounding” and the baby loudly crying in the bathroom.

The woman went to the bathroom and discovered the door was closed and locked. Cugini took 10 seconds to unlock the door for her, and when he did, he told her he locked the door to keep out a 5-year-old child who was also at the home, the affidavit said.

“When he opened the door, I noticed that his pants were on, but his shirt was wet,” the woman told troopers, according to court documents.

Court records show Cugini was released from custody on Thursday after posting $200,000 bail.

In his Facebook video, Muldrow praised the baby’s daycare center for going to police and “getting her little soul some help.”

“I understand how everyone feels right now,” he said. “I’m just continuing to focus on praying for that baby.”

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