[1] The OCPD began its tenure in the summer of 1898 with the appointment of a single officer, Cyrus Purnell.

In 1900, the mayor and town council approved the expansion of the department to include two more officers and the appointment of Purnell to the position of chief of police.

In 1965, with the professionalization of the department, the town's officers were attending an officially sanctioned "police academy."

In contrast, today's police recruits attend the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy for 24 weeks with a total of over 800 hours of instruction.

[2] Full time officers employed with the Ocean City Police Department carry the SIG Sauer P226 chambered in .40 S&W.