OCEAN CITY, Md. - The Ocean City Police Department is detailing what it calls a growing public safety challenge posed by large, social media-organized “takeover” events and is pushing for a coordinated statewide response.
In a new operational overview published on Aug. 6, OCPD says it has seen an increase since 2025 in unsanctioned gatherings promoted online under names including “Beach Party,” “Link Up” and “Takeover.”
The events can attract hundreds or thousands of juveniles and young adults from across Maryland and neighboring states, according to authorities.
Police acknowledge many attendees are simply there to socialize but say some gatherings have been accompanied by assaults, robberies, weapons offenses, and other crimes.
One of the largest gatherings occurred over the Fourth of July weekend in 2025, according to the report, when a “Beach Party” promoted for 33rd Street drew an estimated several thousand people.
From July 4-5, police recorded 63 arrests citywide, along with 47 assaults, three robberies and one nonfatal shooting. Five people were arrested for weapons violations.
Similar events continued in 2026. OCPD reported 37 arrests citywide during a May 29-31 Boardwalk takeover, while several events promoted between June 5 and June 10 coincided with 130 arrests and 40 assaults citywide.
Another takeover was promoted for July 4, 2026 at 33rd Street. Police say that specific event did not materialize there, but several thousand juveniles and young adults instead gathered primarily on the Boardwalk between Worcester and 12th streets.
During the July 4-5 period, OCPD recorded 76 arrests and 39 assaults citywide, with six people arrested for weapons violations.
Police say 67% of those arrested were under 21.
OCPD cautions that the statistics in its report represent all police activity throughout Ocean City during the listed time periods and are not limited to incidents directly connected to the takeover events.
Police say the unpredictable nature of the gatherings makes them particularly difficult to manage. OCPD and the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center monitor publicly available social media to identify potential events, but crowd sizes, locations, and behavior can change quickly.
Ocean City leaders are now asking the state for additional tools.
In a June letter to Gov. Wes Moore, Mayor Rick Meehan called for legislation that could establish criminal penalties for people who knowingly organize or promote unlawful takeover events that result in violence, property damage, assaults, or significant public safety disruptions.
The town is also seeking enhanced penalties for repeat offenders and those who encourage minors to participate in criminal activity, the ability to pursue restitution for damages and extraordinary public safety costs, and stronger cooperation with social media companies to remove content promoting illegal activity or imminent threats.
Ocean City officials stress the effort is not aimed at restricting lawful gatherings or protected speech.
Police Spokesperson Ashley Miller asks if the public sees any social media promotions for these events to speak up.
"We have a great, intelligence based policing," she says. "But we aren't on every single platform all the time. So having that extra set of eyes is really beneficial."
OCPD says the issue increasingly crosses jurisdictional lines and will require cooperation among local, county, and state agencies. The department says it hopes the report will help guide future discussions over public safety strategies and potential legislation in Maryland.
