OCEAN CITY — An Instagram page that launched an investigation a year ago has not yielded any results made public so far.
In April 2021, the Ocean City Sentinel reported on an Instagram page that popped up called “OCBP_predators,” featuring what it called “the untold stories of pedophiles, predators, and inappropriate behavior on the beaches of America’s Greatest Family Resort.”
Following that Instagram page, at least three former or current female Ocean City Beach Patrol lifeguards have filed complaints against the city. (See related story.)
One of the initial posts on the Instagram site read, “OCBP has more pedophiles in power than not. These men prey on young, impressionable girls on the beach patrol and beach patrons alike. Many underage girls have been harassed by their direct supervisor and no action has been taken to stop this. Repost if you believe these men should be held responsible.”
What started with a limited number of posts swelled to more than 170 that included allegations not just against the Ocean City Beach Patrol but against other patrols in southern New Jersey as well. The number of followers quickly grew from a few hundred to thousands and now has more than 8,300.
Last April, when Ocean City found out about the allegations via the website, the city contacted the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, which began an investigation.
“The city has strict sexual harassment policies and procedures in place and acts immediately on every reported complaint. Mayor Jay Gillian has directed Fire Chief Jim Smith to build on existing policies and do whatever it takes to ensure employees feel safe coming forward,” Ocean City public information officer Doug Bergen wrote at the time.
“Investigators urge anyone with information or who has been a victim 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,” Bergen added.
A year later, the Prosecutor’s Office has not released any information.
Contacted Thursday, April 21, 2022, the office reported there was no new information to be released.
Asked for comment on the investigation Thursday, Bergen directed the newspaper to the Prosecutor’s Office. However, he added, in reference to this story and a related story about litigation in the case, “The fact that the city cannot comment on personnel and litigation issues should in no way be construed that decisive action has not been taken to ensure that all city team members work in a safe environment.”
– By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
I have fully investigated the murder of Harry Anglemeyer in 1964. Longo’s brother killed him. The lifeguard and 2 bouncers helped stuff Harry in his car at the Dunes. He bled to death. OC gave 2-3 years for lewd behavior.