(Jan. 19, 2017) “Police work is different in every community – you police to the nature of your community,” Ocean Pines Association Police Chief David Massey said during budget meetings last week.
Ocean Pines, he said, is the largest residential community in Worcester County and statistics show it is one of the safest in the state. According to SafeWise.com, Ocean Pines is the sixth-safest community in Maryland.
SafeWise.com’s mission is to help potential customers make home security decisions. It released a report in August 2016 naming the ten safest cities in Maryland. Ocean Pines placed sixth. It placed ninth on the same list last year.
Massey formerly served with the Ocean City Police Department.
“Having been in Ocean City, I can tell you it’s two different environments,” he said. “Ocean City is a transient tourist community where a lot of people come and go. There’s not a lot of year-round residents.”
Police in Ocean Pines, he said, primarily deal with family issues – things like domestic violence, theft, juvenile crime, minor traffic stops – and drugs, namely heroin.
“We are a very safe community, but we’re not immune to the challenges in this country. And the biggest challenge that we’re seeing [now] is the use of drugs,” Massey said. “The heroin problem affects every community.”
Massey said heroin was both cheap – about $10-15 per hit – and easy to find.
“As a matter of fact, it’s more available than pills,” he said. “We’re dealing with that issue, and once someone is addicted there are dire consequences.”
He said Ocean Pines Police were working closely with county and state police agencies and task forces, adding, “[the problem] doesn’t start or stop in Ocean Pines.” Massey said there have been about 70 overdoses in Ocean Pines over the last two years, including 10 deaths.
“It’s a problem, but it’s a problem everywhere. It’s not unique to Ocean Pines. It’s across this country,” Massey said. “We’re addressing it.”
Police spending is projected to increase about four percent during the next fiscal year. Massey said his department was having trouble keeping up with an increasing number of calls, as well as recruiting and retaining new officers.
He said stories in the national news played a part in that, as well as the fact that Ocean Pines Police salaries are on the low end in the county. The association makes up for some of that with a robust benefits package, and there have been talks about offering take-home vehicles to officers who live in the Pines.
A proposed budget developed by interim General Manager Brett Hill reallocated casino revenues, about $250,000 annually, to help renovate the administration building, which includes Ocean Pines Police. Most of that money would be used to increase the footprint and quality of the police facilities.
“We do a good job of keeping our officers as far as, they want to work here. It’s a great community to work as a police officer,” Massey said. “We have a great citizen base and we’re fortunate to have this community. I thank my stars every day that I’m lucky enough to be here.”
Ocean Pines, he said, is the largest residential community in Worcester County and statistics show it is one of the safest in the state. According to SafeWise.com, Ocean Pines is the sixth-safest community in Maryland.
SafeWise.com’s mission is to help potential customers make home security decisions. It released a report in August 2016 naming the ten safest cities in Maryland. Ocean Pines placed sixth. It placed ninth on the same list last year.
Massey formerly served with the Ocean City Police Department.
“Having been in Ocean City, I can tell you it’s two different environments,” he said. “Ocean City is a transient tourist community where a lot of people come and go. There’s not a lot of year-round residents.”
Police in Ocean Pines, he said, primarily deal with family issues – things like domestic violence, theft, juvenile crime, minor traffic stops – and drugs, namely heroin.
“We are a very safe community, but we’re not immune to the challenges in this country. And the biggest challenge that we’re seeing [now] is the use of drugs,” Massey said. “The heroin problem affects every community.”
Massey said heroin was both cheap – about $10-15 per hit – and easy to find.
“As a matter of fact, it’s more available than pills,” he said. “We’re dealing with that issue, and once someone is addicted there are dire consequences.”
He said Ocean Pines Police were working closely with county and state police agencies and task forces, adding, “[the problem] doesn’t start or stop in Ocean Pines.” Massey said there have been about 70 overdoses in Ocean Pines over the last two years, including 10 deaths.
“It’s a problem, but it’s a problem everywhere. It’s not unique to Ocean Pines. It’s across this country,” Massey said. “We’re addressing it.”
Police spending is projected to increase about four percent during the next fiscal year. Massey said his department was having trouble keeping up with an increasing number of calls, as well as recruiting and retaining new officers.
He said stories in the national news played a part in that, as well as the fact that Ocean Pines Police salaries are on the low end in the county. The association makes up for some of that with a robust benefits package, and there have been talks about offering take-home vehicles to officers who live in the Pines.
A proposed budget developed by interim General Manager Brett Hill reallocated casino revenues, about $250,000 annually, to help renovate the administration building, which includes Ocean Pines Police. Most of that money would be used to increase the footprint and quality of the police facilities.
“We do a good job of keeping our officers as far as, they want to work here. It’s a great community to work as a police officer,” Massey said. “We have a great citizen base and we’re fortunate to have this community. I thank my stars every day that I’m lucky enough to be here.”