OCPD: Crime Down 13% In 2013, But Local Officer Assaults Jumped 26%

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City Police Chief Ross Buzzuro presented the 2013 Year End Report this week, highlighting a 13-percent decrease in overall crime in Ocean City despite a perception that last summer saw some of the most serious crimes in the town’s recent history.

Buzzoro began by presenting Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data, which covers categories of criminal homicide, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, breaking/entering, larceny/theft and motor vehicle theft.

“As you can see, there has been precipitous drop since 2007 but in 2013 there has been a considerable drop off in our offenses. Over a five-year period, we average about 14,070 part one offenses. This past year there were 13,002, which is pretty significant when you look at that amount of drop off in crime,” he said.

In 2013, crimes against persons decrease 14 percent, crimes against property decreased 13 percent and overall reportable offenses decreased 13 percent.

“In law enforcement, when you talk about a double-digit decrease in crimes, that is noticeable, and shows that you are moving in the right direction,” Buzzuro said. “That is due to a lot of hard work and effort.”

The total number of calls for service in 2013 was 78,414, which is an increase of .5 percent with officer initiated calls increasing 28.9 percent. However, citizen-initiated calls decreased 8.2 percent.

The top categories for calls for service in 2013 where traffic calls with 20,844; 4,773 city ordinance violations; 4,340 disorderly; 2,176 suspicious person/activity; 1,677 alcohol violations; 1,536 collisions; 1,530 parking complaint/violation; 1,162 theft already occurred; 1,081 CDC violations; and 818 noise complaint/violations.

In 2013, there were a total of 3,021 arrests, which is a 30.6-percent decrease; 429 DUI arrests, which is a 3.6-percent decrease; 29,335 enforcement actions, which is a 19.8-percent increase; 1,287 CDS arrests, which is a 4.7-percent decrease; 109 weapon incidents, which is a 2.7-percent decrease; and 58 officers assaulted, which is a 26-percent increase.

“We are currently taking a very comprehensive look at that,” Buzzuro said of the increase in officer assaults. “We are dissecting each event … as we move forward to get better. Officer safety is a paramount importance, so we are taking a strong look at that.”

Councilman Brent Ashley questioned the increase in officer assaults now that the majority of officers are equipped with Controlled Electronic Weapons (CEW), also referred to as Tasers.

“When the Taser program was presented to the council, the theory was it results in less assaults on officers,” Ashley said. “In the research I have conducted that seems to be pretty true universally yet we implemented more Tasers this year and our assaults on our officers have increased. They went from 26 percent to 46 in 2012 and 58 in 2013, which is counterproductive to what the Tasers are supposed to be doing.”

Buzzoro responded there are different situations when it comes to physical altercations that the police department will be studying in relation to the increase of officer assaults, such as a situation where multiple officers were assaulted at one time.

“Each month we are seeing events that would have been physical that because of the Taser they aren’t, and there is no injury to an officer or to a civilian but could have still resulted in an assault to an officer,” he said.

Councilman Dennis Dare added two thirds of officer assaults occur during the summer season and seasonal officers are not equipped with Tasers.

Buzzoro furthered the number of Taser displays in 2013 were 15, as well as eight warning arcs, 57 targets and 16 deployments.

The “Walk Smart” Campaign in 2013 was also documented. There were 504 reportable traffic collisions in 2013, which is a 13.7-percent decrease, 26 reportable pedestrian collisions, which is a 40.9-percent decrease, and zero deaths in Ocean City as a result of a traffic collision.
The chief concluded by highlighting several moments in 2013 beginning with auxiliary officers donating $2,957 hours that resulted in an estimated cost savings of $93,450. The total donation since inception in cost savings is $1.6 million.

Also OCPD tested over 865 applicants for police and Public Safety Aid (PSA) positions, more than one million miles of proactive patrol was performed, and a number of high-profile cases were conducted, such as the shooting at 18th Street and an armed bank robbery. Additionally, there was the investigation of the tragedy at St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church and Operation Circle of Trust that was initiated to have surrounding local law enforcement agencies working with OCPD to strengthen forces.

“It seems like longer than eight months ago, so much has transpired, and you really came in during some difficult times but you jumped right into the mix and immediately became part of our OCPD, as well as gained the respect of all of our officers,” Mayor Rick Meehan said to Buzzoro, who assumed command on July 2, 2013. “You have done an excellent job and please send a thank you to your entire department for all the time they have put in to protecting the citizens and visitors of Ocean City. You are on the right track, there will be challenges ahead but I think the department today under your leadership is up to those challenges.”