Updated crime tracking system provides better insights for Ocean City Police
OCEAN CITY, Md. – The Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) is marking the first full year of tracking crime with a new system.
Federal Mandate Spurs Change
Following a federal mandate in 2022, OCPD transitioned from using unified crime reporting (UCR) to the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS).
“[UCR] only captured part one crimes, which were the most serious of crimes,” said OCPD spokesperson, Ashley Miller. “It included homicide, rape, aggravated assaults, things like that. It was a very small number of crimes that were captured.”
NIBRS, on the other hand, tracks all types of crime. Miller says because the system tracks more data points, it gives a fuller picture of the incidents occurring in Ocean City. She offers up the hypothetical scenario of a physical altercation between two individuals, ending with one keying the other’s car.
“Under UCR, that assault was considered the most serious offense. So, that was the only statistic captured; not the damage to the vehicle, or any other crime associated with that incident,” Miller explained.
With the transition to the new system, Miller says came extensive training with officers on how to write and submit their reports. “All of that changed when we changed over to the NIBRS system. Our records department went through extensive training, along with our crime analyst,” Miller said.
A Clearer Picture
Starting next year, OCPD will have two full years of NIBRS data recorded, and an even clearer picture of crime in the town.
“We can take that [data] and put it into our operations and strategies,” Miller said. “[That’s] as to, are we seeing hotspots; do we need to send out more officers in one concentrated area.”
And while comparison can’t be made between UCR data and NIBRS data, Miller says there is one statistic that police do have confirmed: 57% of the crime that did occur in Ocean City occurred during the months of June, July, and August. That lines up with the town’s spiked in population during the busy tourist season, Miller says.
Summer Crush Approaching
And, the crush of visitors expected to arrive in a few months time is something that OCPD is already preparing for. Miller says the department recently wrapped up its last testing session for the seasonal police force, and recruits will begin police academy training in April. Those officers, Miller added, should be ready to suit up come June.
But even before that, Miller says residents can expect an increased police presence as soon as next month. “You will start seeing officers on bikes down on the boardwalk areas since the weather is nice and everybody’s starting to venture out,” she said.
Reach Out With Questions
Until then, Miller encourages anyone who wants to know more about NIBRS to reach out to OCPD. “If anybody does have any questions or concerns about the crime statistics here in Ocean City, go ahead and reach out to us. We’re happy to answer questions,” she said.
