I have lived in Ocean City for 30-plus years and seen three police chiefs. The tenure of Chief Bernadette Dipino has been controversial.
Ocean City Police Department has been sued by officers many times; there were Fraternal Order of Police votes of no-confidence and too many whispers and rumors of misconduct by command staff.
FOP leaders seem to leave sooner than they should. One ex-FOP leader seems doomed to be a sergeant until retirement.
Jim Hall did the right thing by getting the Town Council to instruct DiPino to offer Earl Campbell money for the dog's medical bills. The K-9 got a Hollywood ending, but what about the officer who sacked his career? He was barred by OCPD rules from going public; OCPD is a paramilitary organization with a strict chain of command. If the officer filed a grievance, would he last as long as our ex-FOP presidents do?
The Salisbury blog that festers political controversy commented that the Campbell incident set a record in responses. I think people should sign their comments, but the alleged police commenters had no choice but to hide their names. I have heard DiPino travels too much. Instead of padding her resume, she could be more hands-on. I have heard more than once that favoritism and grudges dictate promotions.
Let's ask our council to create a panel to look at the Campbell incident and OCPD's command staff. Grant officers immunity to speak candidly -- outside the chain of command. If DiPino or anyone else needs to be fired, now is the time. We don't need all these lawsuits from police officers.
Rob Greenebaum
Ocean City
Source
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
31 comments:
Looks like OC has another "Chiefy" folks
9:45-
The difference is that OC's Council won't put up with her like Salisbury's did with Webster.
1. I think the ex officer should be able to tell all. Does OCPD have something to hide? 2. Can you imagine the BS DiPino would or try to sue for? "They discriminated against me bc i'm a female. 3. She is a bully. I spoke to her before and she seemed like she was snobby and above everyone. She is self centered and does not care.
Just replace DiPino with Campbell and call it a day.
Mr. Greenebaum ,
Being anonymous is and should be the choice of the people making comments. There are people that make comments that could affect them at work and at home. Also the OC police dept. is not the only police that visit this blog. Many agents and officers believe in this type of media because of the truth. The world we live in is a dangerous one , with many fruitcakes that would do bad things to the people who comment and affect them.
I have only met Mr. Albero one time
years ago. At least he has the grapes to open these doors of injustice.
I think an ideal solution is to replace DiPino and transfer her to a position within a correctional facility. We would not be as concerned with her bullying and threatening tactics there - as long as she applied them towards the facility's inmates and not the fellow officers.
Mr Greenebaum you are correct!
The OCPD members can't talk because it simply isn't safe from a career or a personal perspective. Look at how she uses the position to attack an ex-employee publicly instead of addressing things in her own department. Look at how she uses resources, calling vets in the tristate area because she is offended. Really, that's a shocking level of arrogance.
What had the council done since the revelations were revealed? I read that the DOJ was being contacted, did that happen, or are they waiting for this to "blow" over?
There are some very unnerving events that have been brought out publicly and I have yet to see a response by a town representative? think the Major said they don't put much stock in this blog and if any of these allegations are true they will investigate. So, how else would these officers have had a voice, papers won't allow anonymous comments and how are you investigating these allegations. It sounds to me like nothing is being done. It is not about the dog, that's over. It's about the other issues, they need addressing. The police dept appears set on set smoke screens and attacking a guy that left instead of cleaning house. It is time to stop this nonsense! DOJ should be involved, an independent investigation is needed, and I'm betting neither will occurr. It's funny, story was dying then Dipino starts it up with her personal attacks and it's front page again. I am so convinced the stories of bullying, intimidation, and harrassnent MUST be true based on her recent actions there is no other reasonable conclusion that can be drawn!
Thank you Mr. Greenebaum, maybe if more prominent residents or business owners in our town start to talk they will be forced to at least listen to the citizens voice through this "blog".
I think that while there is an investigation going on, thay should investigate Earl also.
As long as she participates in the annual polar bear swim and interacts well with the public,OC can overlook the rest.An effective rapport when somewhere north of 500,000 folks are in OC means a lot.OC chiefs seem to have one ability or the other and rarely both.
Amen brother!
Yeah let's investigate a guy that quit, is not a cop, never took a nickel and ignore the cops and the leadership that created this havoc. Sure let's waste our money doing that, it makes sense!! Let's support her bully mentality and ignore the real issues. Morally bankrupt comment.
Maybe Jack Richards can fill in the blanks here. Dint DiPino have a lawyer file suit against the last city council over some type of harassment allegation? Don't remember all of the details. I'm sure a current/former police officer can fill in the blanks.
11:28 Sounds right to me!!!
Just let the folks take care of themselves and de-fund these gun carrying bullies.
If cambell's story is a lie, he "stole" a $10,000 resource from the taxpayers of ocean city for $1. So why shouldn't that be investigated, and yes it's still about the dog.
@anon 11:28 funny stuff but very true!
@anon 10:54 very well said. bottom line is that ocean city mayor and council will keep their heads in the ground til this blows over. if people call city hall and ask why are the police investigating an ex employee they will eventually have to answer. if people call and say all the ocpd cops are corrupt and they all need to be fired they will not listen. we need to stick to the main issues and not keep going off on tangents.
@12:33 you need to have the evidence before you go public in the daily times that the officer lied. just saying that we were unable to find the vet that did the procedure would get you laughed out of a court of law. as Albero pointed out no legit vet is going to just give out patient information to anyone. earl i know a good defamation attorney if you need one.
12:40 this entire mess is a tangent, exactly what Joe and Earl want.
What are you talking about, he never stole a resource worth $10,000 for $1.00. The town sold the dog to him because it was busted, sick, it was no longer able to work as in was it was intended too. I don't know if you are being ridiculous on purpose or unaware. It any case at no time was anything stolen. I just don't get out people make this stuff up? Nobody made the town sell the dog, they decided to do it and he purchased it for their asking price. Take that foolish nonsense somewhere else we are educated and informed here on SBY.
Somewhere here I saw a post suggesting crime family infiltration. I realize it sounds pretty wild but Atlantic City isn't that far away especially with Ocean Downs's casino now open. I wonder how soon it will be before we start hearing talk about casinos in Ocean City. Perhaps that is what all this upheaval is leading up to.
She is overpaid @ roughly $145,000 per year in a town of 7000 year round residents.
Several of the OC highrise hotels can flip overnight for slots! No problem at all. OC is watching closely at the recent VA Beach request to have slots to supplement offseason downtime. Should be interesting indeed. Also will be interesting to see the lcoal revenue generated by OC's VFW, Elks, American Legion, etc with their recent ability to have 5 slots each. VERY INTERESTING!
2:14 can you elaborate on how the OCPD crime syndicate will lead to casino's in ocean city?
Where did the term OCPD crime syndicate come from? I read the reference to a post elsewhere on the blog that brought up the idea of crime family infiltration. If OCPD is in fact involved with something, they would only be part of a larger involvement. Remember, the current buzz follows on the heels of the expulsion of a 27 year town manager who clearly would know what's going down within the town. Did he become a liability? Most of us will never know.
The real problem is ocean city management is not called to task by the local papers. They blow off this blog despite its obvious draw and strong public opinion. I am ashamed at so many, the town of officials for doing nothing, the police leadership for so much it's not worth listing, the police officers for turning tail and running when gag order was issued, I guess courage is not a requirement to be a cop anymore. The local papers for allowing her propaganda to fester, the daily times for being her puppet, my fellow citizens for not demanding action, the DOJ for not getting involved, and the list goes on! Listen, I have heard it said that it couldn't be that bad, for this long, and nobody knew about it. Really... How long did it take for the Penn State story to break? Where there is this much smoke there is some kind of fire. If there are people with courage now is the time to act, to speak up, to demand an audience with your major or council. To demand a change if one is needed. Maybe there is an issue maybe not, we won't know unless we lift up the rug since its all been swept under and out of view now.
THIS is the POLICE department??? LOL!!! No wonder most people think they are the shortest, most arrogant, least informed, most abusive, and by far, the stupidest cops in the state. Sounds more like vicious, gun-oting half-blind Keystone Cop brigade. They should be embarrassed and ashamed. But they're not, of course. Now that there aren't any tourists around to beat up, they are doing it to themselves. For their protection, of course.
I think that DiPino should have been gotten rid of a long time ago. Everybody knows how she "worked her way up". Just ask around.
How exactly did Miss DiPino "work her way up" Anon 11:14?
10:22 Hard work, and HEART! I know, hard to believe huh?
Don't worry all, she and her command staff are currently under investigation by the EEOC (again) for what they did to 44. Looks like the Town of OC is going to pay out a lot of this one!!
I live in Sarasota Florida. Here is your ex policce chief hard at work for my community.
Go to: Bernie the bartender,on you tube. She is promoting alcohol use, in uniform, iobviously in her office in the police station. She is a piece of work and an embarrassment! Using a program platform as her means to win a contest as a bartender!
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