Berlin Intermediate School fifth-grader Conor Pellinger arrived at school with a police escort on March 15 for a celebration of his 11th birthday with fellow students and local law enforcement officials.
Berlin Intermediate fifth-grader Conor Pellinger waves to students and faculty members who gathered outside of school on March 15 to celebrate his 11th birthday. Pellinger arrived at school with a police escort and was celebrated in grand style. Photo courtesy Bethany Hooper
By Bethany Hooper, Associate Editor
Local law enforcement recently came out in droves to celebrate a Berlin Intermediate School student with special needs.
On March 15, members of the Ocean City Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies gathered at Berlin Intermediate School for Conor Pellinger’s 11th birthday.
The fifth-grade student — the twin brother of Will, also a student at BIS — is one of OCPD’s biggest fans. He won the silver award at the Worcester County Public Schools Media Expo event last month for a picture of the police department’s mounted unit during the Oceans Calling Festival.
“There were a lot of huge smiles and cheering going on this morning,” Ashley Miller, the department’s deputy communications manager, said. “It was the best way to start the morning and celebrate our dear friend Conor.”
Ocean City Police officers escort Berlin Intermediate fifth grader Conor Pellinger to school for his 11th birthday on March 15. Photo courtesy Bethany Hooper
Police officers were joined by members of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland State Police, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, Berlin Police Department, Fruitland Police Department and the Maryland Natural Resources Police.
Pellinger, who has Down’s syndrome, along with his brother, arrived at school with a full police escort and was greeted by students, teachers and local law enforcement officials lining the front of the building. He also got a chance to meet the the department’s mounted unit.
This story appears in the March 21, 2024, print edition of the Bayside Gazette.
An Ocean City Police officer and a member of the department’s mounted unit greet Berlin Intermediate fifth-grader Conor Pellinger during a grand celebration of his 11th birthday on March 15. Photo courtesy Bethany Hooper
Berlin Intermediate fifth-grader Conor Pellinger greets an Ocean City Police mounted unit horse during a grand celebration of his11th birthday on March 15. Photo courtesy Bethany Hooper