OCEAN CITY — Ocean City’s elected officials this week heard the highlights of the Police Commission meeting in January, including an update on the proposed signage discouraging the public use of profanity on the Boardwalk and other areas in the resort.
As part of their regular standing committee reports, the Mayor and Council were informed about the Jan. 13 Police Commission meeting and presented with new information about the “No Profanity” signs proposed for the upcoming season. The idea was first floated during the Police Commission meeting in January to install “No Profanity” signs along the Boardwalk with a program modeled after similar signs in Virginia Beach.
Ocean City Police Lieutenant Scott Harner was instructed to look into the Virginia Beach signage and return to present recommendations to the Mayor and Council. On Monday, Harner told the town’s elected officials Virginia Beach has an ordinance on the books prohibiting the use of profanity on its Boardwalk, but Ocean City at this time does not. Short of amending the town code, Harner on Monday suggested signage with less teeth that would not suggest the profanity rule could be enforced.
“We’ve looked into a proposal modeled after Virginia Beach, but Virginia Beach has an ordinance prohibiting profanity,” he said. “We’re proposing an alternative. Virginia Beach’s signs appear to be regulatory with a red circle and a slash going through it. If the council desires, we could go away from a regulatory sign, something with less of an appearance that it can be enforced.”
On Monday, the Mayor and Council also got a briefing on the OCPD’s recent revitalization of the crime tip hotline in the resort. The OCPD last week announced it was revamping the town’s crime tip hotline by making it easier to find and understand for the citizens of Ocean City. Ocean City residents call now call just one number, 410-520-5136, to report a crime. Citizens can also share crime tips through email via [email protected]. However, citizens are reminded to continue to call 911 if information regarding crime is urgent or time sensitive.
“We’ve kind or rebranded our crime tip hotline and this is just another tool for us to engage the public,” said OCPD Chief Ross Buzzuro. “This is a great additional tool to lower crime even further.”
Buzzuro and Harner also reported to the Mayor and Council on the proposed use of motorized tricycles, or Trikkes, on the Boardwalk this summer. Harner said he contacted the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration and it was determined the Trikkes would be defined as a motorized mini-bikes under Maryland law, which would prohibit them from being operated on the Boardwalk. However, a non-motorized trike would be allowed on the Boardwalk under current town code.
The chief also told the Mayor and Council there were four incidents during the month of December when OCPD officers threatened the use of Tasers including one incident when a Taser was actually deployed. No serious injuries were reported for the suspects or the officers. All four incidents involved intoxicated individuals. Buzzuro said the use of tasers continues to prove to be an important tool to gain cooperation or control over suspects with little or no injury sustained.
Finally, Buzzuro presented the December 2013 crime statistics. The number of officer-initiated calls for service increased by over 17 percent over December 2012. However, the number of citizen-initiated calls for service declined by nearly 12 percent over December 2012. Overall, total crime for the entire year in 2013 was down about 12 percent over 2012 and the department closed the year with roughly 200 less Part I, or serious, crimes.