By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(May 21, 2026) Ocean Pines Police Chief Tim Robinson is stepping down from his post on June 12 after a 34-year career in law enforcement and three years with the community department.

The Ocean Pines Association announced last Friday that Robinson will retire next month. The chief assumed leadership of the Ocean Pines Police Department on Aug. 1, 2023, following over 30 years in the public safety sector.

“I have accepted the notice from the chief on his retirement,” said OPA General Manager John Viola in the community statement. “We thank him for his three years of service to Ocean Pines and wish him well.”

Robinson began his career as a seasonal police officer for two summers with the Rehoboth Beach Police Department and later joined the Delmar, MD/DE Police Department.

According to the Ocean Pines Police Department’s website, before coming to OPA, Robinson had served with the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office since 1997. Here, the chief worked in areas including patrol, administration, school safety, judicial protection, and investigations. Before leaving the agency, he had climbed his way up to a captain.

Robinson noted that he now intends to resign from the law enforcement field.

“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to have served as the police chief in Ocean Pines,” he told the Bayside Gazette on Tuesday. “It’s been the honor of a lifetime…After 34 years in law enforcement, I am looking forward to retirement.”

Members of the Ocean Pines community took to Facebook this past week to express their gratitude to the outgoing chief.

Board member Stuart Lakernick wrote, “Today we celebrate the retirement of an incredible leader, an outstanding police chief, and…a true friend.”

“When you took over the department, you didn’t just lead it—you rebuilt it,” he continued. “Through your vision, dedication, and tireless work, you transformed the department into one our entire community can be proud of…you led with integrity, compassion, professionalism, and strength, always putting community first. The positive impact you made on this department and our community will be felt for many years to come.”

Esther Diller, Lakernick’s wife, who runs the Facebook page Ocean Pines Get Involved, also expressed her appreciation to Robinson on social media.

“Thank you for your service here in Ocean Pines,” she wrote. “You brought stability, safety, and unity to our police department as well as our community. It was incredible how you rebuilt our police department, interacted with our community, and worked endlessly on the cell tower issue. Enjoy retirement and life, you earned it.”