Town Moves To Trim Number of Seasonal Police Officers

Years ago, Ocean City, Maryland, had a small-town police force of 50 to 60 officers during the winter, augmented by a larger group -- as many as 150 -- of seasonal police officers during the summer.

Over the past 20 years or so, the year-round Ocean City Police Department has nearly doubled, according to City Council President Joseph Mitrecic. As a result, most town officials agree, the need for seasonal officers has declined.

The Mayor and Council took a first step on Tuesday to "right-size" the Police Department by reducing the number of seasonal officers. Under state law, Ocean City is mandated to hire a minimum of 100 seasonal officers. With the deadline for proposing legislation fast approaching, the City Council voted Tuesday to ask the Maryland General Assembly to reduce the minimum number of seasonal police from 100 to 70.

The Ocean City Police Department presently has 135 year-round employees -- 107 sworn police officers and 28 civilian employees -- according to Police Chief Bernadette DiPino. In addition, 59 experienced seasonal officers will be returning this year.

Chief DiPino expressed some reservations about whether 70 seasonal officers is the right minimum to propose. She said seasonal officers are "vital" to the Police Department, and cautioned that requesting a change could raise statewide issues that might put the entire seasonal officer program at risk. Chief DiPino also warned that the reduction from 100 to 70 might draw questions from the Maryland Police Training Commission.

"Times have changed," Mayor Rick Meehan said. "The number 70 is a minimum number" of seasonal police the town could hire, the mayor emphasized several times. "If we need more, we can hire more," he assured the police chief.

The town has to review at least 140 applicants in order to hire 100 seasonal officers, Mayor Meehan said. By reducing the number, the department can concentrate on recruiting "the cream of the crop," he said.

The department has been training two classes of new seasonal officers, one graduating in May and the other graduating the second week of June. By reducing the number of seasonal officers hired, Mayor Meehan suggested, the town could also save money on training by reducing the number of classes from two to one. The one class would graduate in May.

An added benefit, the mayor said, is that Ocean City would have the maximum number of police trained and on the street during the early part of the season, when the need is greatest. (In early June, large numbers of young people visit the resort to celebrate high school graduation.)

Chief DiPino told the council that she would prefer to do a Police Department staff study to determine the best number to request of the state. But the mayor and council members felt under pressure to move quickly because of the state deadline on legislative requests.

Said Councilman Jim Hall: "I put our Police Department super-second to none." He supported reducing the number of seasonal officers in order to get the "cream of the crop" and "to get the payroll under control."

"We have never denied the Police or Fire Departments something they really needed," Mr. Hall added.