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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Ocean City Police Chief Bernadette DiPino To Retire After 25 Years With Town of Ocean City


Ocean City Police Chief Bernadette DiPino is retiring after serving the Ocean City community for 24 years with the Ocean City Police Department.  Chief DiPino, who is a fourth generation police officer, began her career in Ocean City in 1988, after three years with the Baltimore County Police Department. 
Chief DiPino worked her way meritoriously through the Ocean City Police Department’s rank structure, being promoted to PFC in 1993, to Sgt. in 1995, to Lt. in 1998 and to Acting Chief in 2002 and Chief of Police in 2003.  She earned a Bachelor of Art’s Degree from Salisbury State University in 1995 graduating with a 3.85 grade point average and in 2011 she graduated from the elite FBI National Academy’s 204th with a 4.0 grade point average.
She has worked in every division and on every shift in the Police Department. She served as a member of the Department’s Quick Response Team (S.W.A.T.), she is a certified police instructor in the state of Maryland and teaches many topics including firearms, defensive tactics and community policing. She has been awarded sixteen commendations and has been named Officer of the Year three times. In 2007, Chief DiPino was appointed by Governor O’Malley as the Regional Representative to the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions. She also serves on the Governor’s Emergency Management Advisory Council (GEMAC) and was appointed to the commission to study the death penalty.  Most recently, she was elected president of the Maryland Chiefs Association and was appointed to the executive committee for the International Chiefs of Police.    
“I have been honored and privileged to work with so many dedicated and professional individuals in the supportive community of Ocean City,” said Chief DiPino.  The people I have worked with over the last 10 years as chief and last 24 with the OCPD have allowed me to grow and gain valuable experience. I am most proud of the officers in this agency and the command staff which I’ve appointed over the years. They are more than capable of leading and managing this department without me.”
Chief DiPino has accepted a job as the Chief of Police of the Sarasota, Florida Police Department.  “I am leaving the department with mixed emotions- excitement about a new opportunity and challenge in beautiful Sarasota, Florida, but heartfelt sadness because I will miss the department, the officers, and the citizens with whom I’ve developed so many lasting friendships. I’d like to thank all the citizens, business’, and law enforcement partners who have supported me and the OCPD over the years. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve this community.”

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

I guess Barbara Duncan is getting her resume ready.

Anonymous said...

Like

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 5:32pm

I hope so.

Anonymous said...

Leave before you get fired HUH?

Anonymous said...

I wonder if duncan will take macierrelo with her, the two seem to be inseparable.

Anonymous said...

Both have been very competent in their positions. Why don't you haters put in for either of their positions and you'll see the bs that goes along with supervising a bunch of meatheads who each think they are god?

Anonymous said...

The article didn't say how old DiPino is. I would really like to know.
Isn't it nice that someone can "retire" after only 24 years service, collect a pension for the rest of their life, and then get another job and earn yet another pension.
Government is broken! Taxpayers are broke!

Anonymous said...

I appreciate our chief of police, Barbara Duncan. She has a big job to do. We need to help not hinder her. Just because she dont return calls or kiss someones but dont mean she does a bad job. I have had a couple of problems and I find her sincere in doing the job.

Anonymous said...

Congrats!

Anonymous said...

She is 48 years old....

Anonymous said...

I still would stay out of Ocean City.

That town is bad news. Runaway taxes, runaway government salaries, it is a recipe for disaster.

I cannot over emphasize my warning for people to stay out of Ocean City. The Town is taboo.

Anonymous said...

Annon 6:51
Hi Matt!

Anonymous said...

The Hall family: They've busted this town pretty good. Dare has seen them come and go. The Hall Boys have opinions but not ideas. The Dew tour is Pepsi, not Coke.

Anonymous said...


I knew she wouldn't stay long.

Anonymous said...

She did an excellent job. Good luck in the future endeavors.

Anonymous said...

Kevin Kerstein is her logical replacement.

Anonymous said...

It would be nice is Acting Wannabe Chief Rick Hoppes would leave for another job. The only problem is he isn't qualified to be a real chief so no one would hire him.

Anonymous said...

HAHA.....meritoriously is bs. She did work in a number of positions though

Anonymous said...

Never impressed by her. Goodbye. Next!!

Anonymous said...

Excellent job would consist of having the faith in the rank and file! She did a great job at speaking in front of people and if you put a camera in front of her, she shines like a new coin! But as far as being a police chief, she is about as adequate as Obama is at running this country! Im just glad she is leaving and now the men and women in Ocean City can begin to gain faith in leadership. I just pray to god that they hire from outside and dont promote from within.

Anonymous said...

Wow what a bunch of mental midgets. Good luck Bernadette. I guess it is o.k. for Mikey Lewis to triple dip. State pension, teach half the year for pay on our tax dollar and a Sheriff's salary. I guess if your a women on the redneck shore you dont deserve a chance. Maybe a county police force would keep her here. Let the Sheriff's Office serve papers. Then Mike could be gone all he wants to teach.

Anonymous said...

Just watch Joe Hall's cell phone record and you'll be able to figure out who her replacement will be.

Anonymous said...

Since 12:02 brings up Lewis getting paid to teach while on the job, does anyone know what's up with Ireton? Rumor has it he's not teaching part-time any more. I'm not saying he got fired or isn't with the Board of Education, but someone is saying he isn't teaching any more. Truth or bull?

Anonymous said...

Rick Hoppes and John Tull are both ruining the department with their lack of leadership. Ireton WTH are you thinking?

Anonymous said...

What is the story on Ireton.is he teaching or not?

Anonymous said...

Hey 6:51 is NOT Matt!!!!! I own a business here in the bury.
Get over yourself. You are probably one of those men? who think a woman cant do a mans? job..get over it. Maybe YOU could do a better job? huh

Anonymous said...

She was chief of OCPD for 9 years and she just got a job as chief of police of a much, much larger, more visible town and she's a loser? OC deserves what it gets as long as the good ole boys keep running things into the ground.

Anonymous said...

12:02... mental midgets....haha....love it!

Anonymous said...

Does anyone really think Joe Hall will be around long enough to decide who is hired as her replacement. Last I heard, there is an election coming up in November........

Anonymous said...

No Halls, No Way!

Anonymous said...

More than likely she left because the EEOC recently found probable cause against her for age discrimination and retaliation against a former OCPD officer.

This way she got hired in Florida before the EEOC investigation gets underway.

She can run but not hide. This EEOC case is going to sink her! It's safe to say the former cop is going to sue her and her two captains involved once Town of OC pays him a few million.

Anonymous said...

Kevin Kerstein is her logical replacement.
October 17, 2012 at 9:55 PM

HAHA!! Nice for Kirstein to write a POST about himself. The City Council knows all the dirt on this guy and would never appoint him chief.

Remember in 1980 he said he caught a baby being thrown from the window of a burning building. The baby was dropped into a dumpster and he picked the baby up. Some big hero he made himself out to be. There's a police report documenting the discrepancies.

What a joke. Even the fire department staff can't stand him.