On Sunday, Macedonia United Methodist Church provided a moving dinner and worship service to bestow its Outstanding Community Service Award to Ocean City native and Sergeant in the Police Department, Tyrone Rolls.
A wide range of friends, family and dignitaries took part in the event, as part of their Men’s Day at the Church, at 941 Simpson Ave. The congregation was standing room only and filled with smiles from beginning to end.
The Men of Macedonia issued the following statement of appreciation to Sgt. Rolls for his years of serving the local community: “Thank you for your exemplary character and the many hours of mentoring, coaching, and teaching the youth of Ocean City to become productive, caring adults.”
A highlight of the event was a keynote sermon by the Rev. Clifford L. Still, Pastor, Venice Park UMC and Hamilton Memorial UMC Atlantic City.
Longtime fellow member of the OCPD, Captain William Campbell offered his perspective on the honoree.
“His work and success in the police department speaks for itself,” he said, “but I want to recognize all the time he volunteers and the sacrifices he has made. Tyrone’s personality is the type that resonates with all of the people he comes into contact with.”
Sgt. Rolls has been a well-known Ocean City community member since the late 1980s during his days as a student at OCHS and as a star athlete for the Red Raiders. He made numerous all-star teams and earned individual and team honors as a football and track star, and he continued his athletic prowess at Montclair State University and briefly with the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL.
In the mid-90s, Rolls returned to his hometown and became an OCPD patrolman in 1996. His career path advanced steadily to his current rank as Sergeant, which he achieved in 2016.
Along the way he has distinguished himself on duty and off. His community service awards are too lengthy to list in their entirety here. They include the Knights of Columbus Council 2560 Blue Shield Award in 2007 in recognition of outstanding and distinguished service to the department; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for Community Service from then Senator Jeff Van Drew; and the Key to the City of Ocean City as presented by Mayor Jay Gillian.
Rolls said that his “first love” in serving humankind is coaching local boys and girls for decades in football, basketball and track and field.
Rolls, who always advises youth to strive for high standards in all phases of their lives, has served as a great example for doing so. He has been credited by many people he’s coached and/or mentored over the years, many of whom he still stays in contact with.
The event included a full program of song, dance, prayer and tributes to Rolls.
Michael Downing opened the formal program with a moving prelude, followed by Kevin Poholsky’s candle-lighting ceremony and a rousing welcome from emcee Nathan W. Davis, Jr.
Karl Evans offered the opening prayer and the scripture readings were done by Gabriel Stanford and Bernard Morris.
A solo vocal performance of “Who am I?” by Travis Waid (who later did another solo of the Lord’s Prayer and a stirring rendition of “Amazing Grace”) and a reading by Zacci Robertson followed.
Captain Campbell and Josephus Pratt gave their reflections on Sgt. Rolls and made the presentation of the Community Service Award.
