Investigation continues into accounts of sexism, sexual harassment, worse
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY – Mayor Jay Gillian is responding quickly to the issues unfolding with allegations surrounding the Ocean City Beach Patrol, having his aide bring in independent contractors to oversee the patrol while it is investigated.
Last week, shortly after a lifeguard posted an Instagram site called @OCBP_predators, filled with accounts of inappropriate sexual behavior, the mayor said the city was looking into allegations on the site and that the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office was investigating.
On Tuesday, April 20, the mayor provided an update that the city is handling the matter “with utmost urgency.”
“Effective immediately, I have appointed Aide to the Mayor Michael Allegretto to oversee operations of the Ocean City Beach Patrol,” the mayor wrote in a letter to the community posted on the city’s website, ocnj.us. “His charge will be to retain an experienced labor attorney with a strong background in employment investigations to ensure the city’s policies and procedures are sufficient, correctly implemented and properly communicated; and to engage an independent contractor to oversee the day-to-day operations of the patrol while the investigation is conducted.”
Mark Jamieson will remain as operations chief the beach patrol and will report to the independent contractor while the investigation is ongoing, Ocean City Public Information Officer Doug Bergen said Thursday morning.
The mayor also wrote the Prosecutor’s Office is continuing its investigation of the anonymous allegations that have been posted on social media.
“Given the nature of some of the statements, I understand that it may be difficult for victims or witnesses to come forward, but I urge anyone with information to contact the Prosecutor’s Office at (609) 465-1135, report it anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net (click on “anonymous tip”), or call Cape May County Crime Stoppers at (609) 889-3597.”
What started last week with numerous anonymous posts and about 200 followers has grown extensively in the course of a week. The Instagram site now has nearly 8,400 followers and the posts had grown to 166 by Thursday.
The description of the site is “The untold stories of pedophiles, predators, and inappropriate behavior on the beaches of America’s Greatest Family Resort.”
In one publicized event within the last two years, a senior guard was found guilty of exposing himself to a younger female guard and lost his job with the OCBP and as a teacher in a local school district.
In the anonymous Instagram accounts, in which identifying details of the guards or exactly where incidents had taken place have been redacted, there are stories about everything from rampant sexist behavior to ongoing sexual harassment and rape. The stories say the problems on the beach patrol go back decades and that concerns raised were not dealt with by superiors on the beach patrol. Other posts on the site allege similar incidents on other southern New Jersey beach patrols.
The creator of the account posted their own statement as the account grew in posts and followers. The creator said the intention was not to claim the entire OCBP is bad, but to get accountability that has been lacking.
“Many of the guards take pride in guarding lives and are great people,” the post read. “These people do not deserve to be exposed to inappropriate conduct at work or encouraged to participate outside of the work environment, especially at such impressionable ages.
“Much of the administration now have many accusations against them while other administrators turned a blind eye. In addition, many that wanted or tried to speak up had power on the opposing side. This account was NOT created to ruin the beach patrol, but rather to help it and help the many guards that do not agree with the inappropriate behavior as well as keeping the beach patrons safe,” the creator wrote.
“I created this account to give a platform to those who have been harassed, taken advantage of, or assaulted, as well as the people who witnessed these acts and wanted to speak out and didn’t know how.”
There have been a lot of supportive comments on the creator’s statement, many from people thanking them for being brave enough to bring the issues to light.