Ocean City Police To Help Handle Security During Donald Trump's Inauguration

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City Police will have a presence when the next President of the United States is sworn into office later this month.

The Ocean City Police Department will participate help handle security for Donald Trump's Presidential Inauguration on Jan. 20. This isn't the first time Ocean City Police have been asked to help with security during a presidential inauguration.

The first came in 2009, when the Washington D.C Metropolitan Police Department asked Ocean City Police to help with security for Barack Obama's inauguration. When Obama was sworn in for the second time four years later, Ocean City Police were there once again.

They were initially asked to participate due to a longstanding relationship between former Ocean City Police Chief Bob Blevin and the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, Capt. John J. Prettyman said Monday morning.

Ocean City will send 14 officers to D.C. to help with security for the parade. This is the most police officers Ocean City could provide without it impacting services the police department provides locally, and without having to take on any of the costs. Everything will be paid for by the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, Prettyman said.

"It's pretty prestigious. The guys enjoy going down there and being part of such an historic event," Prettyman said.

After being asked to participate, Prettyman —who has coordinated the police department's participation in each of the inaugurations— said a sign up sheet is put out and any officer interested adds their name. Officers are then selected from the list, with preference given to those officers who haven't participated in the past. About one-third of the department's 58 officers signed up for the opportunity.

"It's a unique experience, something the guys might get to do once in their careers," said Prettyman, who doesn't participate in the actual event because he feels it should be something for the officers who are on the front lines every day.

Sgt. Patrick Randles will lead the Ocean City contingent in Washington, D.C. It will be his second inauguration, after helping with security during Barack Obama's first inauguration. It is his first time leading his detail.

"You gain the experience of working on a large scale. You'll never get that in a small town," Randles said. "It's important to gain that experience. It puts things in perspective. When you're working on a detail that size, you're surrounded by 1 million people. It gives you confidence that you can handle large scale operations, and I hope the first timers this year get that same experience."

In 2009, Obama was sworn in as the nation's first African American president, an historic event that drew the ire of some, but saw few protests.

This year, dozens of activist groups and some anarchist groups have threatened to disrupt Trump's inauguration, according to Reuters.

Randles said Ocean City Police didn't directly encounter anything extreme in 2009, but complimented the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department's ability to handle protests.

"They're so diverse," Randles said. "No matter what their personal belief is, whether they agree with the protest or not, that doesn't matter. They treat everyone fairly, and everyone abides by the same rules."

Prettyman said Ocean City Police will be ready to do whatever is asked of them.

"We've been telling our guys they're on loan to Washington Metro," Prettyman said. "They'll be required to do what they ask and they'll take their orders from them for that day."

Ocean City won't be the only local police department represented during the inauguration. When some police departments that were invited were unable to participate, the Washington D.C. Police contacted Prettyman, who then reached out to local departments.

As a result, Somers Point and Middle Township will each send six officers, and Wildwood will send five. Atlantic City Police are also participating, but Prettyman wasn't sure how many officers from that department will be going because they are participating independently of the Cape May County departments.

New Jersey State Police are also participating, and Prettyman expects that all New Jersey departments will be assigned to the parade.

More than 3,000 police officers from across the country will participate, as well as 5,000 National Guard Troops and federal agents.

Officers will be trained and deputized as U.S. Marshals for the inauguration.

The inauguration includes a procession, the departure of incumbent President Barack Obama and performances from the Talladega Marching Tornadoes, The Rockettes, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Jackie Evancho.

The day before, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Ceremony and a welcome celebration on the mall with Trump and Vice President Elect Mike Pence, according to The Washington Post.