While acknowledging that some operational changes were needed, a recent manpower study conducted by the Center for Public Safety Management (CPSM) did not recommend that the Ocean City Police Department increase its number of sworn officers.
However, Interim Police Chief Michael Colbert told the Mayor and Council on Wednesday that the department still stood by the city’s plan to increase total manpower to 125 sworn officers this year, arguing that the report failed to consider the city’s “unique policing environment” when making the recommendation to cap that number at 118.
“We feel that the CPSM manpower recommendation did not fully account for Ocean City’s unique environment, even though they talked about our unique demands,” he said. “They took this into account, but not to a degree that we believe was warranted. We continue to see rising demand for police services during the shoulder seasons, and OCPD does not fully agree and believes maintaining the July 2024 manpower increase of 125 sworn officers is critical to maintaining quality service for the town and for the citizens of Ocean City.”
In recent weeks, the Town of Ocean City received the 202-page study, which analyzed all aspects of the police department’s operations, including staffing, workload and level of crime. The study also listed 108 recommendations, which ranged from improving internal communications and work-life balance to civilianizing certain positions currently filled by sworn officers.
“They felt that we should get better at creating a career track for professional civilian staff,” he explained. “So when they talk about professional staff, they talk about civilians that work for the department.”
Only one recommendation addressed manpower, Colbert said. He said the agency recommended 118 officers.
YEAH!!! Time to DE-fund the Ocean City Police Department so us gangsters can feel safe walking the boardwalk after dark (BHAAH HAAA HAAA). What a bunch of fools. If this study is taken seriously.
If anything, they need even more officers!