Ocean City Beach Patrol

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The Officer Corps of the OCBP

Staff Link to Web Access Email

Ocean City Beach Patrol Officers

Front Row bottom: L to R
Sgt. Jamie Falcon, 2nd Lt. Mike Stone, Recreation/Parks Director Thomas Shuster, Captain Butch Arbin, 2nd Lt. Ward Kovacs, 1st Lt. Skip Lee, Sgt. Richard Cawthern

Back Row: L to R
Sgt. Brent Weingard, Sgt. Matt Postell, Sgt. Ryan Cowder, Sgt. Colby Kaufmann, Sgt. Marc Bouloucon, Sgt. Steve Fowler, Sgt. Jeff Brabitz

 

Captain Butch Arbin Melbourne "Butch" Arbin III
Captain
Butch Arbin has served the patrol for 39 years. He became Captain in 1997. In the winter months Butch works for Charles County Public Schools in the Instructional Division with primary responsibilities of Instructional Technology and overseeing Engineering and Technology Education. Previously he was a middle school teacher and computer network administrator. His most recent teaching assignment was an Aerospace Engineering Instructor at Lackey High School. In addition he also taught the Gateway to Technology (pre-engineering) classes at Mathew Henson Middle School, which is part of the Project Lead The Way Program. Prior to taking on the additional responsibilities as Captain, he taught graduate courses for the University of Maryland. When he is not working one of his 2 jobs, Butch is working on as a member of a work and witness team with his church that travels to under privileged countries building churches and medical facilities.
E-mail: barbin@oceancitymd.gov
Walter "Skip" Lee III
First Lieutenant
Skip has served the Beach Patrol for 29 years; most in the capacity as First Lieutenant with Captain Arbin. For the past five years, however, he has transitioned to more of a part-time capacity. His responsibilities include the coordination of our testing program, the support of many initiatives being pursued by the Captain and he brings a strong passion for the work our Surf Rescue Technicians do everyday. His fervent work-ethic and organizational skills continue to help move the patrol forward. When he is not with us, Skip Lee works full-time as the Coordinator for Health, Physical Education and Dance in Anne Arundel County Public Schools where he leads the HPED department of nearly 300 teachers.
E-mail: slee@oceancitymd.gov
Ward Kovacs
Lieutenant
Ward has served with the patrol for 27 years. He is in charge of recruiting, the surfing beaches, our motorized rescue fleet, and our educational and public outreach programs. He has recently been hired as a year round, full time employee by the Town of Ocean City as a Beach Patrol Lieutenant.
Email: wkovacs@oceancitymd.gov
Wesley Smith
Lieutenant
Wesley has worked with the patrol for 21 years and has been a Lieutenant for 10 years as the Director of Surf Rescue Training, Personnel Evaluations, and Beach Patrol Competitions. He is responsible for the training of all Beach Patrol personnel including Rookie Academies, and refresher courses for all veteran SRT's. In the off-season Dr. Smith is a full time professor at the University of Miami in Florida where he teaches in the Department of Exercise Physiology. He is also a National lecturer in the area of exercise physiology and nutrition.
E -mail: wsmith@oceancitymd.gov
Michael Stone
Lieutenant
Mike has been with the patrol for 25 years. His primary responsibilities include employee assignments, scheduling the SRT's, and accounting for employee work hours before they go to payroll. In the off-season Mike is employed with the Worcester County school system as a guidance counselor.
E-mail: mstone@oceancitymd.gov
Marc Bouloucon
Sergeant, Part-time
Marc has served with the patrol for 20 years. Originating his guarding experience in the north end of town, Marc eventually moved into the South end and was Crew Chief of Crew One prior to becoming sergeant.
E-mail: mbouloucon@oceancitymd.gov

Jeff Brabitz
Sergeant
Jeff has served with the patrol for 12 years. He is one of the sergeants for the middle north areas of ocean city covering 52nd street to the Atlantis condo. Known for being the “people’s sergeant” , Brabitz is a dedicated employee for the OCBP and is always there for the guards. In the off-season he is a Physical Education teacher in Wicomico County and is happily married to a former OCBP Crew Chief Alyson. Jeff and Aly live in The Pines where they enjoy the company of their puppy, Rudy.
E-mail: jbrabitz@oceancitymd.gov
Ryan Cowder
Sergeant
Ryan has been with the beach patrol for 13 years. He currently resides in Berlin, with his wife Erin. Ryan is a supervisor in the north area of Ocean City, which consists of the area between the Clarion Hotel and the Maryland/Delaware line. He is also the treasurer for the Ocean City Beach Patrol Chapter of the United States Lifesaving Association. During the off-season, Ryan teaches academic chemistry and AP chemistry to upper classmen at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin, where he has been teaching for the past 11 years. Ryan holds a Master's Degree in Administration and Supervision from Salisbury University. Ryan was named Teacher of the Year for Stephen Decatur High School for the 2005 - 2006 academic school year.
E-mail: rcowder@oceancitymd.gov
Rick Cawthern
Sergeant, North
Rick has served with the patrol for 22 years and is currently operating as the Lead Sergeant of the North end of town. He has also guarded in Delaware and in Florida in the past. Rick is known to be well rounded watermen from surfing to paddle boarding and rowing. In the winter months Rick serves as a teacher in the public school system as well as coaching high school swimming and track.
E-mail: rcawthern@oceancitymd.gov
Jamie Falcon
Sergeant
Jamie has been with the Beach Patrol 15 years. He is an Area Supervisor and our coordinator of training. Jamie is the former president of the OCBP chapter of the USLA and continues to be significantly involved with our chapter of the United States Lifesaving Association. In the off-season, Jamie instructs Economics at UMBC and Mathematics at Worwic. He is married with two small children. Jamie is a former U.S. Navy Rescue Swimmer.  
E-mail:hfalcon@oceancitymd.gov

Ed Fisher
Sergeant
Edward has served with the patrol for 20 years, and currently supervises 18th – 52nd streets. Ed writes a weekly beach safety article for the Dispatch newspaper. In the winter Ed is a school teacher outside Washington D.C. Other skills involve surfing and playing the ukulele.
E-mail: efisher@oceancitymd.gov
 
Colby Kauffman
Sergeant
Colby received her promotion in 1999. She currently oversees the equipment and uniform office. Colby is also a strong addition to our officer corps in starting up the women's competition team. Colby has two beautiful girls, Remy age 10 and Sadie who is almost 5.
E-mail: ckauffman@oceancitymd.gov
 
Matt Postell
Sergeant
Matt has been with the Patrol for 13 years. His first year on the patrol was in 1997. He was promoted to crew chief in 2000. He was in charge of crew 7 that is located on 34th street - 43rd street. He was promoted to sergeant in 2008.
E-mail mpostell@oceancitymd.gov

Tim Uebel
Sergeant
Tim exemplifies the heart of the Beach Patrol. His dedication, caring, and perseverance since he appeared at his first test has been an inspiration to many. Tim has been with the patrol for 25 years. 
Email: tuebel@oceancitymd.gov

 

Brent Weingard
Sergeant
This is Brent's 22nd year working for the OCBP. He is a supervisor of the Ocean City's "Historical" south end of town. Brent's area includes the most southern point of Ocean City, the Inlet and extends north along the boardwalk to 18th street. He works with crews 1 (Inlet), Crew 2 (North Division), Crew 3 (Surf Ave.), and Crew 4 (14th street).

Brent is a member of the elite Maryland State Police-Ocean City Beach Patrol Helicopter Rescue/Recovery Unit which works with MSP Helicopter 4. In addition to this, he is part of the OCBP Marine Mammal Rescue/Recovery Team and has been on several missions working with Whales, Dolphins, and Sea Turtles. He is an instructor for Paddleboards, Land Lines, PWC's, and Quads.

In the off-season Brent Resides in Frederick, Maryland. He works for Montgomery County Public Schools in Olney, Germantown, and Potomac, Maryland where he is a Physical Educator for several Elementary schools. Brent is a father of three future SRT's that reside with him in New Market, Maryland.
E-mail: bweingard@oceancitymd.gov

Steve Fowler
Sergeant
Steve has been working for the Beach Patrol for 9 years. He is one of the downtown area supervisors. Steve grew up locally and graduated from Stephen Decatur High School. When he is not working, you can usually find Steve training for a competition or at Cross Fit Ocean City. Currently he is pursuing a career in the US Navy.
E-mail: sfowler@oceancitymd.gov
 

 

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Keep your feet in the sand, until the lifeguard's in the stand!