The Police Chief is responsible for ensuring the safety and well being of the residents and visitors to the City of Ocean City.  Chief Chad Callahan is the 11^th Chief of Police to serve on Ocean City’s Police Department since its first in 1887. Chief Callahan started as a part-time Seasonal Officer in 1993 and was hired full-time and assigned to the Community Oriented Policing Unit in 1994.  In Chief Callahan’s current role, he is responsible for a full-time sworn staff of 59 officers, 13 full-time civilian staff, and approximately 15 part-time civilian staff members. In addition to the 72 full-time employees, Chief Callahan employees 45 additional seasonal law enforcement officers during the summer season, due to the influx in population.

 

Under Chief Callahan, the Department is currently organized into three Divisions; the Patrol Operations Division, the Special Services Division, and the Professional Standards Division. Community Policing and Police Accreditation continue to be the backbone and the philosophy of the Department. Both have resulted in many positive changes throughout the City including enhanced community involvement with the local schools and civic organizations, as well as maintaining the Department’s status as being accredited through the New Jersey State Association of Chief’s of Police. 

 

Chief Callahan is a graduate of Camden Catholic High School and has been the recipient of numerous awards and achievements throughout his career. Chief Callahan scored the highest in the State on the Police Entrance Examination in 1993, as well as number one on both the Police Lieutenant’s and Police Captain’s Examinations. Chief Callahan is a 2002 graduate of Penn State’s Police Executive/Leadership Program, a New Jersey Certified Public Manager, CALEA Certified Accreditation Assessor - Team Leader, and a 2006 graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.  

 

Chief Callahan is active in numerous community organizations as well. He is a member of the F.B.I. National Academy Associates, Cape May County Association of Chief’s of Police, New Jersey State Chief’s of Police Association, a steering committee member for Shore Memorial Hospital’s Health Foundation Leaders Alliance, a member of Shore Memorial Hospital’s Health Foundation Stainton’s Society, a member of Ocean City’s Regional Chamber of Commerce, and a member of New Jersey’s Police Accreditation Coalition.

 

Chief Callahan resides in Ocean City with his wife Denise and two sons, Chad and Ryan.