Ocean City Police Officer Speaks Out

Mr. Albero, I am a current Ocean City Officer; and I'd like bring some things to your attention.

I find it so ironic that the department initially claimed they would not comment on this situation because it was personnel matter, now suddenly they are more than willing to address it publicly. Of course, Kirkpatrick still does not speak, why, their public attack on Earl would lead me to believe that it is no longer a personnel issue. In fact, I don't think in the history of our department, including cops arrested and currently incarcerated for child sexual abuse, as well as cops charged with various other crimes, has a Chief ever attacked an ex-employee in a public venue like this? Earl is a private citizen, she is the Chief of police acting in her professional capacity and she is attacking a private citizen publicly, in my experience that is simply unheard of!

I guess the gag order is off, since she is now talking openly about it. Funny how she can't find time for exit interviews, or even talking with Earl when the situation was happening. Now she has cops investigating, chasing down vets in different states as she stated, all on the tax payer dollar, what a waste. Is this not an issue, is this acceptable? In is worse than that, they are doing more, so far in the paper she has admitted to chasing downs vets, soon it will come, it doesn't end with the vet hunt.

The blog posts about our department, her conduct so far proves them to be accurate. Look at the intimidation, the bullying, the name calling, blaming the messenger, what a hostile environment...for a private citizen! Imagine the great lengths to punish you as an employee, look how she handles a private citizen.

If the dog was still healthy would they dump it for $1.00. This is a very expensive working police dog, Charlie has had more drug seizures and arrests than any other Ocean City K-9 in our history. Charlie was never sued by anybody for bite in the line of duty, no other departmental K-9 can say that! Ask other agencies what they thought of Charlie, or Campbell, let them speak for his record. They were the most sought after and heavily used team by all of our local allied agencies! So we have a dog, worth over well $10,000 and this is a low estimate, that had done more than any other Ocean City K-9, yet he was so healthy they gave him up for a dollar? Yeah, that makes sense!

I read the Times, I saw what Earl said, he is afraid! Look at how she attacks him openly, what kind of attacks are they conducting behind the scenes? They are much greater, believe me, it isn't good. I know, it will come out soon and it is very bad! Earl is definitely under attack and he should be very careful right now, it is no joke!

Earl previously shared with a few of us that he had received many personal threats by email throughout this ordeal,did any come from our group? He has to take them all seriously, are they real, I don't know, but they can't be ignored. What if just one is credible, he does not work here anymore, there is no reason for him to continue to place himself in danger, for what? Why should he fight a battle and risk his safety or most importantly the safety of his family? What price does he have to pay? The dog is his private property, and he never accepted the departments attempt to buy his silence after the event was public. He owes nobody anything, he certainly owes the department nothing, but he absolutely owes it to his family to keep them safe!

So far our only action is chasing down vets across three states, has anything been done to address the many serious allegations? Did the FOP president call the DOJ as he publicly stated he would? Are these not important questions, why are they not being asked? Why are we chasing vets for an ex-employee, instead of investigating the misconduct that was reported about current and still working officers?

It all seems so wrong and yet so typical. I believe Earl must take the situation very seriously, this is no joke! I believe his safety is in jeopardy, and obviously so does he based on his decision to stop talking. Good for him, it is the right decision, and he should be left alone. Let's demand the chief answer questions, there are many out there, and she has answered none.

I have tried to call Earl, he avoids my call. I understand and don't blame him, he doesn't know who to trust and is going to be focused on keeping his family safe, what else is more important!

The threats, the bullying, the intimidation, it all continues, now it is Dipino in her capacity as the chief doing it publicly! Make no mistake this is what happens behind our closed doors, even worse! At no point has she put Kirkpatrick out to answer the one simple question, did he ever claim the council was preventing him from getting Charlie the necessary treatment. If Charlie was not in poor health, why did he sell the best performing K-9 in Ocean City's history for one dollar ($1.00)? Let's get these answers.

Councilmen Hall says he never spoke to Kirkpatrick, did anyone? Did Kirkpatrick tell Earl he was being stymied by the council, these are questions that need to be answered. These are electing officials and Kirkpatrick is a tax payer supported employee, he should be forced to respond, but he isn't? Why, why are we so focused on attacking a private citizen who owns his pet, and ignoring the questions that really need to be addressed? If its truth we are after, the first question is to Kirkpatrick, let's demand accountably from us, the cops and the brass at 65th street.

Thank you Mr. Albero,

I'd like the papers to publish this as an editorial, but I don't think they will, maybe or I hope I'm wrong.

An Ocean City Police officer