OCEAN CITY — The Neighborhood Watch Associations of Ocean City gathered together last month with Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) employees at the Grand Hotel for their annual Officer of the Year Ceremony. More than 150 guests gathered together to recognize OCPD personnel and volunteers for their accomplishments in 2017.
Corporal (Cpl.) Michael Richardson was named the Ocean City Neighborhood Watch Association’s 2017 Officer of the Year by the seven Neighborhood Watch area coordinators. Also nominated were Police Officer First Class (Pfc.) Benjamin Berry, Detective First Class (Dfc.) Carl Perry, Pfc. Nathan Kutz, Pfc. Kory Moerschel and Dfc. Kyle Murray.
Richardson joined the OCPD as a seasonal officer in 1997 and continued to work each summer until being hired as a full-time officer in 2000. He has served on the K-9 Unit, Narcotics Unit and Patrol Division. His superiors praise Richardson’s dedication to street level drug enforcement. Upon accepting the award, Richardson credited his award to his fellow officers and thanked his family for their support.
Volunteers of the OCPD Auxiliary Unit were also recognized for their contribution of 2,390 hours of their time in 2017. Since the Unit’s inception, Auxiliary Officers have volunteered a total of 60,391 hours which translates to a cost saving of over $2 million to the taxpayers of Ocean City. This year, the Auxiliary Officer of the Year Award was given to Kathy Grimes for her dedication to public safety in Ocean City. Grimes joined the Auxiliary Unit in 2016 and volunteered over 560 hours in 2017.
As part of the ceremony, many officers were awarded departmental commendations for exemplary service.
Meritorious Service Commendations were presented to Sgt. Mark Paddack and Dfc. David Whitmer
Special Commendation was presented to Pfc. Clifford Goggins
Excellent Performance Commendation awards were given to Sgt. Frank Wrench, Cpl. Freddie Howard, Cpl. Andrew Yeager, Pfc. James Bird, Pfc. Joseph Centofranchi, Pfc. Ryan Flanagan (2), Pfc. Jeffrey Heiser, Pfc. Daniel Jacobs, Pfc. Edward Newcomb, Pfc. Pam Russell (2) and Worcester County Deputy Sheriff Corporal Rodney Wells
Unit Citations were awarded to the Narcotics & Vice Unit and the Southern Evening Patrol Shift.
A Certificate of Outstanding Service was presented to Public Safety Aide Patrick Ray.
In addition, Buzzuro took time to thank Susan Jones, executive director of the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, for her assistance during several major motor events in 2017. Jones was able to secure discounted hotel rooms and meals for visiting law enforcement officers who assisted the OCPD during the motor events.
Employees were also recognized for their retirement and promotions, including Lt. Brian Cardamone, Lt. Mark Pacini, Lt. Todd Wood and Detective Cpl. Brett Case, who each retired this year after serving a collective total of nearly 115 years to the Town of Ocean City.
Promotions in 2017 were given to Lt. Shawn Jones, Lt. Glen McIntyre, Lt. Brian Mongelli, Sgt. Joseph Bushnell, Sgt. Todd Speigel, Sgt. Andrew Yeager, Cpl. Matthew Foreman, Cpl. Aaron Morgan, Cpl. Mike Richardson, Cpl. John Spicer and Pfc. Jacob Fetterolf.