OCEAN CITY – On Monday evening, the Mayor and Council presented a proclamation proclaiming Saturday, July 26, as Ocean City Beach Patrol Appreciation Day.
Ocean City Beach Patrol (OCBP) Capt. Butch Arbin, OCBP Lt. Ward Kovacs, OCBP Lt. Mike Stone and Ocean City Director of Emergency Services Joe Theobald joined Mayor Rick Meehan at the podium.
“Tonight I am presenting a proclamation for OCBP Appreciation Day. This was brought forward a few years ago that we set aside a day to recognize our beach patrol, and we thought it was a great idea. We certainly appreciate the beach patrol every single day. It is not one day they are out there. It is an entire summer and a lot of time in between the fall and the summer preparing for the next year. One of the things we all know about Ocean City is we try to keep it safe and clean, and the beach patrol is certainly a very important part of that as they watch over all of the visitors that come to Ocean City to enjoy our beaches,” the mayor said.
The proclamation states, “the OCBP has been serving the Town of Ocean City and protecting our residents and visitors enjoying the Town’s beaches for over 80 years. The OCBP’s primary mission emphasizes education and prevention, and is responsible for the protection, safety and well-being of Ocean City’s residents and eight million annual visitors. OCBP employs over 200 personnel dedicated to providing the highest quality of public safety, executing preventative actions, water rescues, medical aid, and enforcing Town ordinances.
“The Town of Ocean City commends the OCBP for their years of devoted service and wish them continuous success in the future of keeping Ocean City’s citizens safe, and hereby declare July 26 OCBP Appreciation Day.”
Arbin appreciated the council’s recognition.
“I want to thank the citizens of Ocean City and the Mayor and City Council for the opportunity to serve as your ambassador on the beach every day, and we appreciate the opportunities and support we have been given from the citizens, elected officials and everybody else,” Arbin said.