By MADDY VITALE
Ocean City Police Chief Jay Prettyman is preparing for a busy summer. An increase in visitors, now that more people have been vaccinated against COVID-19, is one thing.
The popular family resort and its residents know that at the height of the season the population swells to about 130,000 people.
But new laws, specifically the legalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey and directives eliminating sanctions for underage possession and use of marijuana and alcohol, will make enforcement and community policing efforts much tougher than in previous years, Prettyman predicted in an interview Thursday at the police department.
“Unfortunately for us, I feel the marijuana laws will affect the resort communities because we have way more contact with juveniles,” he said of a shore town such as Ocean City as opposed to a mainland community.
Prettyman is looking to the community for input at a Town Hall meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 22, at the Ocean City Tabernacle.
He wants to educate the public about the new laws and the strict guidelines. Prettyman noted in the interview that he wants an open dialogue between him and the attendees.
“It is important to me that we do our best so residents know what to expect when they call police, to know their expectations,” Prettyman said.
He explained what he believes will be the biggest complaints this summer.
“Our biggest problems will be the smell of marijuana and underage drinking,” he said.
And if it is on the Boardwalk, beach or other public place, it is not permitted. Cannabis will be treated the same as tobacco, a violation of a city ordinance.
In a letter supplied by the chief involving the new laws, it cautioned that the odor of marijuana “may become common in public places like beaches, boardwalks, and parks. Many people will probably turn to police and expect the usual uniform enforcement.”
If someone smokes a joint and an officer approaches and the person puts it in their pocket, the officer can’t do a thing, Prettyman said of enforcement.
He pointed out that among the ways that his department is preparing for the summer is the hiring of an additional 15 seasonal officers that will bring the number up to 60, in addition to 63 full-time officers.
Mediation to resolve juvenile infractions has always been the mindset of the police department. Sometimes, it just meant contacting the parents and sorting it out that way, Prettyman said.
Police departments in New Jersey must follow a December 2020 directive from state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal that requires officers to give “curbside warnings” to juveniles who are engaging in minor acts of delinquency instead of detaining or arresting them.
The curbside warnings are part of broader reforms in New Jersey’s justice system “to demonstrate to juveniles that police officers are present to give guidance, direction, and assistance, and not simply to take them into custody,” according to the directive.
“We’re not looking to charge kids,” Prettyman said. “But it was always a benefit to be able to charge when needed to send a message to curtail the behavior.”
And if a minor does not give an officer his or her name, the officer cannot do anything about it and the police report will simply reflect that.
That goes for smoking marijuana or underage drinking at, for instance, a house party.
“We want to educate people because if you call us for an underage drinking party, we will come and knock on the door and give a warning,” Prettyman said.
But beyond that, police can do nothing, he added.
“We will be doing a lot of mediating this summer and request compliance so that each party is happy,” Prettyman said. “I believe in Ocean City, our officers are way more social worker than crime fighter. Our calls for service are largely not focused on crime fighting, more medical calls, marital problems, life problems, and incorrigible youths.”
With the new laws and directives in place, this summer the police will definitely be more focused on more of the social worker aspect of the job.
“Our role as that mediator or social worker will expand,” he said. “The ability to be a crime fighter has shrunk.”
And he expects there will be many complaints over the summer.
“We will feel the brunt of the complaints, but we didn’t change the rules,” Prettyman said.
Prettyman urged the public to call police if they have a tip, they have witnessed something or they have a complaint. Unless it is an emergency, he asks that the public call the main number at 609-399-9111.
