OCEAN CITY - Mayor Sal Perillo announced Thursday that Chad C. Callahan will be Ocean City's next chief of police.

Callahan has been with the department since the summer of 1993, when he began as a seasonal summer police officer. He was promoted to the position of sergeant in 2000, lieutenant in 2002 and captain in June of 2005. Captain Callahan scored number one on the Police Entrance Examination, achieving the highest possible score in the state, scored number one on the Lieutenant’s Promotional Examination, and scored number one on the Captain’s Promotional Examination. Callahan’s is also a 2006 graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, a New Jersey Department of Personnel Certified Public Manager, and a state certified CALEA – Accreditation Team Leader Assessor.

Callahan served as the captain in charge of both operations and staff services. He resides in Ocean City with his wife, Denise, and two children, Chad and Ryan.

The selection process for the city's next chief began when Chief Robert Blevin announced his retirement earlier this year. The interview process was opened up to the four eligible lieutenants and Callahan. All of the candidates were interviewed. Prior to their interviews, all of the candidates were asked to submit a written statement which contained, among other things, their vision for the future of the Police Department. A series of interviews was then conducted involving three individuals who had collectively over 100 years of law enforcement experience, the business administrator, the city’s personnel director and the mayor. The three law enforcement officers were former Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeffrey Blitz, former Somers Point Police Chief Orville Mathis and former Police Chief of Lower Township and current Under Sheriff for Cape May County John D. Maher.

A series of interviews were then conducted with a group composed of community residents. That group consisted of Brian Roberts, Pastor of St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, John Stauffer, owner of Johnson’s Popcorn, Dave Brace, owner of Downtown Dollar and Portion Thompson, a resident who currently serves on the City’s Local Assistance Board and Housing Authority.

After that, another series of interviews were conducted by the business administrator and by the mayor.

"Chief Callahan assumes office at one of the most challenging times for the City and its Police Department," said Perillo. "I am confident that he has the leadership skills to move the department forward and to provide the level of public safety that Ocean City needs and enjoys."

“I am honored and privileged to be selected by Mayor Perillo as the next Chief of Police for the City of Ocean City," said Callahan. "I look forward to managing the challenging times that the mayor speaks of, forging lasting partnerships with the community, and leading a professional workforce that has been established by Chief Blevin."

The mayor also announced the promotion of Jay Prettyman to the rank of captain. Lieutenant Prettyman served as the detective lieutenant supervising all of the criminal investigations and internal affairs investigations in the police department. Prettyman also resides in Ocean City with his wife, Tiffany, and his 2 daughters, Phoebe and Chloe.