The Ocean City Police Department recorded a 119% increase in officer calls for service last month, Police Chief Ray Austin told the Police Commission last Monday.
Austin’s report on activity for January noted that while citizen calls for service had declined last month (from 609 to 577), officer calls for service more than doubled – from 1,630 calls in January 2025 to 3,582 calls in January 2026.
“So those officer calls for service in January of 2026 are at a five-year high,” he said.
Austin reminded commission members that calls for service include property checks the police department conducts on a weekly basis during the winter months. With business checks, residential checks and city-owned property checks excluded from the data, he noted that citizen calls for service decreased from 604 to 571 while officer calls for service increased from 868 to 1,330.
“It’s a very widely used program, and officers are out there proactively doing it,” he said. “And it’s very much part of our community engagement we do throughout the department.”
In the top 25 calls for service, calls to assist citizens and motorists decreased from 160 to 155, calls to assist fire and EMS decreased from 122 to 110, and traffic stops increased from 415 to 637. Austin attributed that jump to proactive enforcement and a number of traffic details the police department recently conducted along Sinepuxent Avenue.
Ahhh, and warm weather is coming
They leave common sense at home
And destroy OC rental property
Wow,
Surfs up dude… party on
You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet. Wait til summer time at “The Family Resort”! Then you will see some action.