Ocean City officials will consider loosening the town s dangerous weapons ordinance Monday night to allow accredited private security officers to carry batons all in an effort to save lives, according to those supporting the change.
Under the martial arts weapons subsection in Ocean City’s code, batons are considered a dangerous weapon within town limits. Those in possession of a baton can be charged with a misdemeanor and be sentenced to six months in jail and/or fined up to $1,000, according to Chapter 58 of town code.
A proposed ordinance change would carve out an exception in the town s rules to allow certain accredited security officers to carry batons. Only certified security officers with a valid handgun permit from the state would be allowed to carry batons.
47abc
January 21, 2021
OCEAN CITY, Md.- The Ocean City Police Commission is looking to expand their City Watch Surveillance Program.
The Police Department said the City Watch Program is something they utilize everyday and is especially important during the summer.
We are told recently the commission expressed how they want to install more cameras along Baltimore Avenue, which they consider a highly traveled spot.
They also say they are looking at revamping the cameras at the entrance and exit points of Ocean City.
“With the expansion of the community watch program that’s another tool for officers to use in an investigation, know exactly where they are needed, it brings together the technology our dispatchers and our officers,” Ashley Miller, Deputy Communications Manger OC Police Dept, said.
OCEAN CITY – Ocean City’s police chief said the department’s enforcement efforts remained strong last month.
On Dec. 14, Ocean City Police Chief Ross Buzzuro presented the Ocean City Police Commission with an update on police activity for the month of November.
Last month, officer calls for service decreased 13.9% – from 1,380 in November of 2019 to 1,188 in November of 2020 – and citizen calls for service increased 3.6%.
And while there were no significant changes in the top 25 calls for service last month, Buzzuro said the department completed 191 business checks related to COVID-19 restrictions and public health concerns.
“It’s our part in checking businesses and making sure we have the COVID-19 restrictions in place by the governor …,” he said. “That number represents those checks.”
File photo by Chris Parypa
OCEAN CITY – Ocean City’s police department is reporting an increase in the number of applicants for seasonal law enforcement positions.
On Monday, Ocean City Police Chief Ross Buzzuro presented the Ocean City Police Commission with the most recent testing statistics for new seasonal officers and public safety aides (PSAs).
“If you take a look at police applications, this actually looks more promising than we would have thought,” Buzzuro told the commission this week. “But we are still in this, so there’s a little bit of trepidation there with getting too overly optimistic.”
For decades, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) has enhanced its workforce with seasonal officers and PSAs during the summer months. However, the number of applicants for both programs have declined in recent years.