OCEAN PINES, Md - Ocean Pines Police Chief David Massey is retiring. Ocean Pines General Manager John Viola making that announcement Tuesday night. Massey has served in this role for the past 17 years.
"Under Chief Massey, Ocean Pines is noted as the safest community in Maryland," Viola said.
Prior, he was the police chief for Ocean City. When Massey took over in 2003 at Ocean Pines, Massey said the town's law enforcement was considered a “special police department,” meaning it did not fall under the Police Training Commission and other regulatory bodies.
“They were basically given limited authority on the property only and they weren’t regulated as tightly as certified police,” he said. “In 2005, I got a bill passed by the Maryland Legislature, with the help of our local representatives, to get us certified. We are now co-equal with any other police agency in the county, and that’s a matter of pride and it’s a matter of professionalism.”
He also created a criminal investigation division, for Ocean Pines Police detectives.
Massey, who recently turned 70, will continue as chief until August 1. Lt. Lt. Leo Ehrisman has been named as Massey's successor.
