The Ocean Pines Police Department has raised officers’ starting salaries to what officials say is the highest on the Eastern Shore.
File photo
By Tara Fischer, Staff Writer
In the face of recruitment challenges, the Ocean Pines Police Department has raised officers’ starting salaries to what officials say is the highest on the Eastern Shore.
Chief Tim Robinson credited Ocean Pines Association Manager John Viola and OPA Board President Rick Farr for the ability to increase the new starting pay for officers once they complete training to $63,500.
“Remarkably, this puts us at the highest tier of law enforcement,” Robinson said.
The department is reportedly the highest-paid law enforcement agency on the lower Eastern Shore. Easton is the only area on the Delmarva Peninsula that pays an equivalent amount, Robinson said.
Robinson maintained that the department has struggled to find qualified applicants over the last six months. But he said their phones have been “ringing off the hook” since raising the starting salary.
“If you know anybody who wants to get in law enforcement, this is a great community to work for,” he said. “It’s a great department to work for [and] we have great support here. I think it’s been the talk of the law enforcement community.”
For more information, the Ocean Pines Police Department can be reached at 410-641-7747.