Ross C. Buzzuro
police chief · active 2013–2023
Chief of the Ocean City Police Department from 2013 to 2023, a Baltimore Police veteran. Led the OCPD through the June 2021 Boardwalk use-of-force controversy and championed the accelerated body-worn-camera program, telling the council in December 2021 that Axon 'stood out' after a comprehensive vendor review.
In the record (13)
2014
Eighty-eight documents and about 4.48 million characters, with a police chief, an emergency services director and a tourism director all named in the record
Mayor Richard W. Meehan; Council President Lloyd Martin; Council Member Dennis Dare; Council Members Mary Knight, Michael James; City Manager David Recor; City Solicitor Guy Ayres; Police Chief Ross Buzzuro; Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald; Tourism Director Donna Abbott. The largest annual volume in the corpus, and still one source.
Rick MeehanDennis W. DareDavid L. RecorGuy R. Ayres III
Source · checked 2026-09-02
2014 · 2014-03-24
The council voted 6-0 to post "No Profanity Please" signs on every block of the Boardwalk, an idea borrowed from Virginia Beach
The idea arrived at the Police Commission on 13 January 2014 as "a suggestion of installing 'No Profanity' signs on the boardwalk as has been done in Virginia Beach"; Chief Buzzuro was asked to ring the Virginia Beach police and learn what the signs had done there. On 10 February the commission recorded that it was "in favor of using 'No Profanity' signs on the boardwalk" and asked for wording alternatives, with the downtown merchants to be consulted on the design. At the regular meeting of 24 March 2014, under Discussion of "No Profanity Please" Signage presented by the City Manager: "Council Member Brent Ashley moved to post 'No Profanity Please' signs on every block of the boardwalk; seconded by Council Member Pillas. The vote was 6-0 with Council President Lloyd Martin absent." In public comments the same night Brian Demler "commended the Council for instituting the 'No Profanity Please' signage without imposing on the First Amendment rights of citizens."
Source · checked 2026-09-10
2014 · 2014-08-18
Asked to move a street performer from in front of the Plim Plaza, the mayor reminded the council that the ACLU had taken the town to court over performers twice and won both times
Regular meeting of 18 August 2014, Comments from the Public: "Joe Moore asked the Council to consider the position of the street performer in front of the Plim Plaza on 2nd Street. Council Member Joe Mitrecic moved to refer this matter to Police Chief Ross Buzzuro; seconded by Council Member Pillas. The vote was 6-1 with Dare opposed." Under Comments from the Mayor and City Council: "Mayor Rick Meehan advised that the street performer issue has been addressed on numerous occasions. The Town was challenged by the ACLU in Court and the Town lost both cases. He stated that he is committed to resolving the issues caused by certain performers."
Source · checked 2026-09-10
2016 · 2016-05-16
Ocean City detectives worked the crowd in plain clothes when presidential candidate Donald Trump appeared at Stephen Decatur High School, and made the town's only Taser-report arrest of April on a man carrying a stun gun
The Department Activity Report filed with the 16 May 2016 regular meeting records that "Members of the Special Enforcement Unit (SEU), Intelligence Unit and Narcotics/Vice Unit assisted the Worcester County Sheriff's Office/Maryland State Police during the recent appearance of presidential candidate Donald Trump at Stephen Decatur High School. SEU and Narcotics Detectives deployed in plain clothes to monitor crowds that had gathered outside of the venue. One arrest was made by a SEU Detective in reference to a suspect who was assaulting another subject with a stun gun." The Police Commission minutes of 9 May 2016, in the same packet, carry the other half: Chief Buzzuro's CEW (Taser) report for April showed "only one incident which occurred after the Trump Rally concluded at Stephen Decatur High School. The suspect himself had a stun gun. An OCPD officer targeted the suspect and gained full compliance with no injuries to either suspect or officer." Electronic Services listed "Trump Visit" alongside the City Clean-Up and the marathon among the special events it issued loaner radios for. The school is in Berlin, outside the town; the record is of Ocean City's police lending themselves to it.
Source · checked 2026-09-10
2017 · 2017-02-28
In one work session the mayor handed out two Keys to the City, to Police Lieutenant Howard Whaley after thirty years and to Zoning Administrator Blaine Smith after thirty-one
Under Acknowledgements and Recognitions at the work session of 28 February 2017: "Chief Buzzuro thanked Police Lieutenant Howard Whaley for his dedication, professionalism and high level of service to the community for 30 years. Lt. Whaley will continue his service as a reserve officer for the Town of Ocean City. Mayor Meehan presented a proclamation and Key to the City." Then: "Mayor Meehan presented a proclamation and Key to the City to Blaine Smith for 31 years of service, commenting on Blaine's integrity, honesty and the respect of all who had the pleasure of working with him. He read two letters into the record, one from Joe Moore and another from Al Wendling. Planning and Community Director Bill Neville stated what an honor it had been to work with Blaine. Jeff Thaler and Robert Herron spoke briefly as well." The year's other retirement recognitions in the minutes were Parks Superintendent Calvin Ginnavan, 37 years (25 April, proclamation and Key to the City); Detective Corporal Brett Case, 28 years (30 May); Police Lieutenant Todd Wood, 28 years (26 September); and Human Resources Specialist Dolores "Miss Dee" Cockrell, 19 years (28 November, proclamation and Key to the City).
Source · checked 2026-09-10
2017 · 2017-10-02
After the H2Oi car weekend the council agreed unanimously to "discourage and displace" the event, legal action against its promoters and sponsors included, and by November the Police Commission's action plan ran from a special-event zone with doubled fines to asking the governor for the National Guard on standby
Under Comments from the Mayor and City Council at the regular meeting of 2 October 2017: "Mayor and Council thanked Ocean City Police Department, Firefighters/EMT's and allied agencies for their tireless efforts and assistance this past weekend. Mayor and Council unanimously agree that they, in collaboration with business owners and residents, need to share ideas and determine best solutions to discourage and displace the H2Oi event, including taking legal action against promoters and sponsors." At the Police Commission of 13 October Chief Buzzuro reported "a 37.4% increase in Officer CFS in September 2017" - calls for service - "influenced by Saturday of H20I being in September, where in 2016, it was in October," with "traffic stops ... up by over 300 and city ordinance violations ... up by close to 400." On 16 October Council President Martin "stated main goal is to make Ocean City a family resort with family friendly events." The "Ocean City Motor Events Action Plan" filed with the Police Commission report of 6 November opens: "Certain motor event attendees are violating our values and changing our long held reputation as a family resort. Immediate action is required to reverse this undesired trend of lawlessness, civil disobedience and disrespect for our town." Its suggestions include: "Request Promoter(s) to cancel or move event off Eastern Shore"; "Take legal action against Promoter to recover increased event costs"; "Request Governor to have National Guard on standby"; "Doubling of fines in a 'Special Event Zone', e.g. Work Zone"; "Spinning out in confined areas a felony reckless endangerment"; a curfew; temporary speed humps; businesses to "Close early (9 pm)"; and, as replacement events, "Youth Sports Tournaments, Pickle Ball Championship, Senior Citizen Olympics."
Source · checked 2026-09-10
2019
Three hundred and sixty session documents, about 8.41 million characters, one source
Mayor Richard W. Meehan; Council President and Police Commission Chairman Lloyd Martin; Council Secretary Mary Knight; Council Member Matt James; City Manager Douglas Miller; Police Chief Ross Buzzuro; Public Works Director Hal Adkins. The largest character count in the corpus, and the year that produced its first count of the homeless — both facts about what a government writes down.
Source · checked 2026-09-02
2020
Three hundred and thirty-three session documents and about 7.05 million characters, in which the pandemic is heavy in only seven sessions
Mayor Richard W. Meehan; City Manager Doug Miller; Police Chief Ross Buzzuro. The town that spent 1988 trying to get the Baltimore Sun's Sunday magazine to write about beach replenishment is now fielding Reuters — and what it says to them is not in this record either.
Source · checked 2026-09-02
2021 · 2021-05-02
A motorist jumped 25 to 35 feet from the Route 90 bridge into the Assawoman Bay to pull a face-down infant from the water after a five-car crash, and the council gave his family and the family of the boat that picked them up Keys to the City
The fire and police chiefs' incident narrative, attached to the 16 August 2021 regular meeting, records that "At 1447 hours on May 2, 2021, a serious vehicle collision occurred on the Route 90 Bridge" - "a mass casualty incident (MCI) that involved 5 vehicles and a total of 8 victims" - with one vehicle "dangling on the bridge railing over the Assawoman Bay." Jonathan D. Bauer, whose own car had been struck, was pointed at the water by an occupant with whom he shared no language: "Jonathan looked over the bridge and noticed an infant in a baby seat floating in the water ... The baby was now face down in the water." He told his 13-year-old daughter Ava to stay at the car, took off his shoes, "jumped over the bridge railing and descended some 25-35 feet" into about four feet of cold water, swam to the baby, and tapped her back until "she coughed up some more water and opened her eyes." Alayna Oertel, on a family pontoon boat, saw the jump, had her father run the boat over and readied life vests; the Oertels carried the pair to a boat ramp where paramedics were waiting, and the infant was flown by State Police Medevac to a children's trauma center. Under Items Presented by the Mayor and City Council on 16 August: "Fire Chief Bowers and Police Chief Buzzuro presented a summary of the May 2, 2021, Rt. 90 Bridge mass casualty incident, recognizing heroic efforts of civilians, OC 911 Dispatchers, OC Volunteer/Career Fire Department, OCPD and mutual aid units ... Mayor Meehan presented the Oertel family and Bauer family with a Key to the City."
Ocean City Police DepartmentOcean City Volunteer Fire DepartmentRick Meehan
Source · checked 2026-09-11
2021 · 2021-06-01
Citing Uber and Lyft, the council cut the taxi medallion fee from $250 to $50 and the medallion transfer fee from $1,000 to $100
Standing Committee Report, work session of 1 June 2021: "Police Chief Ross Buzzuro reviewed the May 17 Police Commission Minutes. Based on negative impacts to the taxi industry because of transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft, the Commission recommended a taxi medallion fee reduction, currently $250, and a taxi medallion transfer fee reduction, currently $1,000." The motion "to reduce the taxi medallion fee to $50.00 and the taxi medallion transfer fee to $100" was approved unanimously. Ordinance 2021-15, adopted 6 July, moved vehicle-for-hire fees out of the Code so that they "will now be set by resolution," and Resolution 2021-11 establishing the new taxicab fees was adopted the same night. On 5 April the council had approved the transfer of Taxi Medallion #152 on consent.
Source · checked 2026-09-11
2021 · 2021-09-20
The mayor gave the Boy Scouts of America a Key to the City for its recruiting drive, and Council Member Paddack named two new Eagle Scouts, Kurt Leinemann and Gabriel Bradley, at the same meeting that honoured a 26-year police lieutenant and the year's Beauty Spot gardens
Items Presented by the Mayor and City Council, regular meeting of 20 September 2021: "A. Retirement Recognition of Ocean City Police Lieutenant Brian Mongelli. Mayor Meehan and Police Chief Buzzuro presented a proclamation to Lieutenant Brian Mongelli for 26 years of service. Commissioner Joe Mitrecic presented a commendation from Worcester County. B. Proclamation to Support Boy Scouts of America Recruiting and Fundraising Efforts. Mayor Meehan presented a Key to the City and a proclamation recognizing Boy Scouts of America recruiting and fundraising efforts. Council Member Paddack acknowledged two new Eagle Scouts, Kurt Leinemann and Gabriel Bradley. C. Ocean City Beautification Committee Beauty Spot Awards. Mayor Meehan and Beautification Committee Chair Donna Greenwood presented the 2021 Beauty Spot Award Winners." The winners' list in the packet names nine residential gardens (the Hoffmans at 800 32nd Street, the Siegels on Dolphin Street, Pamela Schultz on Edgewater Avenue, the Lawrences on Loop Road, the Taylors on Nantucket Road, Judy Jameson on West Biscayne Drive, Pam Mason on Chesapeake Drive, the Kallises on Bering Road and the Wheelers at 300 14th Street), four condominiums (Tiara West, Orleans Court, Triton's Trumpet and the Gateway Grand) and one commercial winner, Jolly Roger Park at 30th Street. The mayor's August activity report records he had "Met with the Del-Mar-Va Council Boy Scouts of America" beforehand.
Source · checked 2026-09-11
2021 · 2021-12-20
After the summer's Boardwalk use-of-force videos, Ocean City signs a $2.4 million Axon contract to put body cameras on every officer by summer 2022 — three years ahead of the state mandate.
Maryland's 2021 police-reform package required body-worn cameras statewide by 2025, but Ocean City accelerated its own deadline to the summer 2022 season after the June Boardwalk incidents put OCPD's use of force under scrutiny. On Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, Chief Ross Buzzuro and Capt. Mike Colbert pitched a roughly $2.4 million five-year contract with Axon Enterprise covering all 116 full-time officers plus seasonal officers, taser upgrades, drones, and digital evidence management; the council moved ahead facing a Dec. 31 deadline after which the price would have jumped about $500,000. Cameras became part of the OCPD uniform in June 2022.
Source · checked 2026-08-05
2024
Five town employees retired with a proclamation and a Key to the City in 2024 - a police corporal, a golf assistant superintendent, the risk manager, a public works safety coordinator and a police lieutenant - 132 years of service between them
The clerk's minutes carry each under Acknowledgements and Recognitions. 30 January: "Police Corporal Sydney Findley was recognized for serving 28 years with the Ocean City Police Department with a proclamation and a Key to the City presented by Mayor Meehan and Police Chief Buzzuro." 27 February: "Mayor Meehan, Recreation/Parks Director Susan Petito, Golf Superintendent Joel McTavish and Former Golf Superintendent Joe Perry presented a proclamation and a Key to the City to Mark Longanecker for 32 years of service" at Eagle's Landing. 28 May: "Mayor Meehan and City Manager McGean presented a proclamation and Key to the City to Christine Parks for 16 years of service" as Risk Manager. 11 June: "Mayor Meehan and Public Works Director Hal Adkins presented a proclamation and Key to the City to Roger Steger for 32 years of service" as Public Works Safety/COOP Coordinator. 1 July: "Mayor Meehan and Police Chief Buzzuro presented a proclamation and Key to the City to Lieutenant Jeffrey Heiser for 24 years of dedicated service. Delegate Wayne Hartman and Senator Mary Beth Carozza also presented commendations." The key is the town's standard retirement token in this decade; the Heiser ceremony is the only one at which the state delegation appeared.
Source · checked 2026-09-11