CLOSE CALL: Five victims are
IT’S OFFICIAL
fortunate to be alive as they were rescued over the last week from the ocean after lifeguards had gone off-duty PAGE 27
Baltimore man writes Ocean City’s first ‘Song of Summer’ PAGE 5
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . 46 CLASSIFIED . . . . . . . . 78 ENTERTAINMENT . . . . 53 LEGALS . . . . . . . . . . . 81
LIFESTYLE . . . . . . . . . 49 OPINION . . . . . . . . . . 20 OUT&ABOUT . . . . . . . . 62 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . 39
WEEKEND FESTIVAL CELEBRATES ALL THINGS GREEK…PAGE 49
Ocean City Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.NET
OCPDTOGET10MORETASERS DiPino: numbers indicate fear of Tasers more effective than devices themselves ZACK HOOPES ■ Staff Writer (July 27, 2012) The Ocean City Police Department will be getting 10 new Tasers this fall, after OCPD Chief Bernadette DiPino presented City Council with data showing that the devices have been effective with just their presence, let alone their actual use. In February, the OCPD purchased 15 devices and had an additional one donated to the department by a local business. All 16 equipped officers, as well as several alternate users, were given 30 hours of training
on the device. The X2 is essentially a ‘double-barreled’ Taser device, capable of firing two sets of barbs without reloading. The barbs, trailed by thin wires, stick to the target’s skin so that the officer can deliver a shock from some distance. However, according to the data that DiPino submitted to the council, more results have come from simply displaying the Taser as a means of warning, rather than have come from actually firing the weapon. Since February, the department has recorded 19 instances in which officers have intentionally removed their
Tasers from their holsters and displayed the devices as a means of gaining submission from uncooperative subjects. In 10 of these 19 instances, the Taser was “arced” — the device has a switch that causes its contacts to arc a charge between them, generating a visible bolt of electricity and a cracking noise, which provides a further intimidating effect. In another eight instances, a Taser was drawn and aimed at the subject using its built-in laser sights. Though the device was not fired, DiPino noted that pointing the weapon at an individual with the threat of its use is technically considered a “use of force.” Six instances of the device actually being fired were re-
This ATM, located at the south end of the Boardwalk, allegedly issued twice the cash value users requested July 19. OCPD Chief Bernadette DiPino
corded. In five of the six instances, DiPino noted, alcohol consumption was a factor. She also stressed that, in all six cases, neither the officer nor the subject was seriously See TASER on Page 13
Department makes annual bulk ammo purchase ZACK HOOPES ■ Staff Writer (June 27, 2012) The Ocean City Police Department will soon be making its annual mass purchase of ammunition, a requisition that will supply 86,000 rounds for the department’s firearms and highlight the unique situation of the OCPD as a largely seasonal police force. According to OCPD Lt. Richard Moreck, this will be the third year in a row that the department has made its purchase from The Gun Shop in
Vincentown, N.J. The Gun Shop is the regional distributor for Federal brand ammunition, allowing the OCPD to get its order direct from the factory. The store also holds the ammunition contract for the state of Maryland, and the state extends its contract pricing to the OCPD to for certain types of ammunition, a benefit that helps subsidize the training of Ocean City’s seasonal police force. Ocean City is the only jurisdiction in the state allowed to raise such a force each summer.
Ammunition utilized by the OCPD, from left: .38 Special, 9mm, .40 Smith and Wesson, .45 ACP, .223, .308. Note that, despite its larger size, the .38 is a revolver round and operates at somewhat lower internal pressures than the others. All pistol rounds pictured feature hollow-point bullets, while the rifle cartridges are fully jacketed.
See OCPD on Page 12 PHOTO COURTESY BOB ARTHUR, ARTHUR’S SHOOTERS SUPPLY
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JULY 27, 2012
CASH GRAB Reports of double cash from downtown ATM appear plausible ZACK HOOPES/NATHAN BRUNET ■ Staff Writers
(June 27, 2012) A few lucky Ocean City ATM users might have gotten something hard to come by these days – more money than they asked for. Last week, Ocean City Today was tipped that for a brief period last Thursday evening, the Bank of America ATM at the Boardwalk’s south-end tram terminal was dispensing twice the amount of cash that users requested. According to a witness who wishes to remain anonymous to See WITNESSES on Page 10
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