OCEAN CITY — Joining the ranks of law enforcement agencies all over the state, the Ocean City Police Department has sent 10 officers and an unspecified amount of other resources to Baltimore, the OCPD announced late Thursday.
While the protests and riots in Baltimore have waned after a peak on Monday night, the situation is still very fluid and continues to change. Throughout the week, local law enforcement agencies, including the Berlin Police Department, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Maryland State Police Berlin barrack, for example, have sent manpower and resources to assist in Baltimore. On Thursday afternoon, the OCPD confirmed it was sending an undisclosed number of officers and/or units to join the fray.
“Our thoughts are with the citizens of Baltimore and the law enforcement professionals and emergency responders that have been working tirelessly to maintain peace in the Baltimore area,” said OCPD spokesperson Lindsay Richard late Thursday. “Members of the Ocean City Police Department have been deployed to Baltimore to support the ongoing efforts of the Baltimore Police Department, Maryland State Police, Maryland National Guard and many other law enforcement agencies and emergency responders.”
Richard said the department was not at liberty to say who or where the OCPD officers were heading specifically.
“Due to operational security, information regarding their deployment, names, and assignments of those officers while in Baltimore will not be released,” she said. “Like many of our residents and visitors who call Baltimore home, we are hoping for a peaceful resolution, new beginning and healing for the entire city.”
The busy season is beginning in Ocean City and there are a number of events, such as spring biker activities, planned in the area. However, OCPD Traffic Safety Unit Commander Lt. Scott Harner said the public should rest assured manpower is not a concern.
“I just wanted to reassure you that the Ocean City Police Department, including the Ocean City Quick Response Team, is here and ready to respond to any emergency situation that may arise in Ocean City. We are fully prepared to handle the events in Ocean City this weekend and look forward to a great weekend,” Harner said.
On Monday night at the peak of the unrest thus far, Berlin Police sent the department’s SWAT team to Baltimore. The SWAT team arrived around midnight and relieved law enforcement officers on the front lines in the area of North and Pennsylvania Avenues near the now famed burning CVS store. The Berlin SWAT unit remained in Baltimore overnight on Monday and returned on Tuesday afternoon. The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office also sent manpower and an armored vehicle to Baltimore on Monday night and took up a position near City Hall and police headquarters.
