While many of their college friends headed to the beach this summer for sunshine, sand and boardwalk strolls, a handful of Frostburg State University students spent their summer break serving the public instead of surfing the waves.

The students, all part of the Criminal and Legal Studies program at FSU, secured jobs with the Ocean City Police Department, trading fun in the sun for patrolling crowded streets, responding to emergencies, assisting police officers and learning firsthand what a career in law enforcement truly looks like.

Ocean City, Maryland, has been the site of summer internships for FSU criminal justice students.

The partnership between Frostburg and OCPD spans decades and has given young, aspiring law enforcement professionals the opportunity to put classroom lessons into practice at one of Maryland’s busiest tourist destinations.

“The Ocean City Police summer program provides a great opportunity for Frostburg State students to gain real-world experience in the field of law enforcement,” said Dr. Scott P. Johnson, FSU professor of political science, coordinator of criminal and legal studies and pre-law advisor.

For student Michael Long, a Frederick native who is entering his final semester as a double major in criminal justice and political science, the journey to the beach began during his freshman year when Johnson pitched the idea of an internship with the OCPD. Flashforward to this summer where Long worked as a public safety officer, patrolling the boardwalk, enforcing city ordinances and assisting officers with everything from thefts and fights to missing children and found property.

But before stepping onto the boardwalk or cruising Coastal Highway, Long and the other Frostburg students completed an intense seven-day academy that covered report writing, EMS and medical training, driving instructions, communication and department procedures and self-defense (including being pepper sprayed to understand its effects).

The training (and pepper spray) came in handy for Long who had to deal with irate beachgoers facing legal issues.

FSU student Michael Long distributes giveaways during patrol on the Ocean City boardwalk.

“I have seen people at their lowest of lows and the highest of highs,” said Long. “I have also learned many things about policing that you typically don’t see in the news or in my regular life.”

Student Jordan Jackson had been planning this summer at the beach since OCPD officers came to speak to his class at FSU. He finally got the chance to work as a public safety officer, responding to calls stretching from 18th Street to the Delaware state line. His responsibilities ranged from assisting citizens and fire/EMS personnel to helping officers secure crime scenes, complete paperwork and establish perimeters during arrests. No two days were alike, which suited Jackson.

“I believe this experience has taught me a lot about daily police work as well as the spectrum of calls that a patrol officer goes through on a regular basis,” Jackson said, noting transporting prisoners during the Fourth of July holiday and responding to fireworks-related incidents as his most memorable experiences.

He also learned the art of “preventative” police work. “Another thing this job has taught me is how effective proactive police work can be when it comes to reducing crime in a given area.”

But if all that failed, suspects were arrested and brought to Inzaghi Harmon, a criminal justice major who served as a booking public safety officer. Harmon got an inside look at another side of policing. The soccer player from Accokeek, Md., fingerprinted and processed prisoners, prepared booking paperwork, transported detainees to commissioner hearings and helped keep the department’s booking operation running smoothly.

While procedures and protocols are important, Harmon learned new skills in dealing with the public, as well as time management.

Ocean City Police intern and FSU student Jordan Jackson books a hardened and furry criminal.

“I created a great schedule for me that gave me time to put in for training for soccer, work and personal leisure,” said Harmon. “Working 12 hours a day for four days a week, it was definitely hard finding time to do a lot of other things.”

The hard work and long days paid off both professionally and monetarily for the Frostburg interns. 

“Frostburg State students can earn substantial amounts of money working overtime during their time with the Ocean City Police during the summer,” Scott said. “And several of our students have used their earnings to pay off student loans.”

Which can be way better than any old day at the beach.