Local Officers Working Trump Inauguration

OCEAN CITY — When Donald Trump is officially sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on Friday afternoon, a large contingent of local law enforcement officers will be on hand to provide security.

The inauguration is expected to attract millions of spectators, supporters and protestors alike, creating a potential security nightmare in Washington and throughout the immediate area. To that end, thousands of law enforcement officers from all over the nation have been summoned to the nation’s capital to assist in a variety of different capacities with security for the inauguration and the associated festivities.

For example, the Ocean City Police Department is sending a contingent of officers of an unknown size to assist with security during the inauguration. In addition, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office is sending deputies as well as the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office. While the OCPD and Worcester County Sheriff’s Office remained mum this week on just how many officers they were sending and how they were being deployed, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office is known to be sending 25 deputies.

OCPD spokesperson Lindsay Richard said this week the department had been asked to send officers to assist with security during the inauguration although tight security concerns prohibited the department from releasing to much information about the deployment. Likewise, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office would only confirm a contingent of deputies was headed to Washington.

“Members of the OCPD have been asked to deploy to Washington, D.C. to join the thousands of police officers from across the country tasked with ensuring the safety of all who plan to attend the Presidential Inauguration celebrations,” she said. “Due to operational security, information regarding their assignments while it Washington will not be released.”

Richard said the department has been asked to provide extra security for presidential inaugurations in the past and allayed any concerns a deployment of OCPD officers would impact police coverage in the resort.

“The OCPD has assisted in presidential inaugurations for decades and is honored to be a part of this inauguration as well,” she said. “Ocean City residents and visitors should rest assured that the OCPD will remain at full operational capacity and will be ready to respond to all calls for service without any disruptions or delays.”

About The Author: Shawn Soper

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Shawn Soper has been with The Dispatch since 2000. He began as a staff writer covering various local government beats and general stories. His current positions include managing editor and sports editor. Growing up in Baltimore before moving to Ocean City full time three decades ago, Soper graduated from Loch Raven High School in 1981 and from Towson University in 1985 with degrees in mass communications with a journalism concentration and history.