Ocean city Beach Patrol
Captain of the Ocean City Beach Patrol beginning in 1920
Prior to 1920 Ocean City had a rudimentary lifeguard patrol, but they were a ragtag team. Then in 1920 the mayor asked Jernee to head up the Ocean City Lifeguards. Jernee's first order of business was to change the name of the Ocean City Lifeguards to the Beach Patrol
Jernee’s love for the sea, the military and the Ocean City community in general came to fruition during his time as captain of the Ocean City Beach Patrol.
During his years as captain, Capt. Jernee ran a “tight ship” and with proper training and discipline the Ocean City beach patrol became famous as one of the most efficient life-saving units in the United States with no drownings on a lifeguard protected beaches.
ocean city beach patrol
Chief of Police
From 1933 to 1935 Capt. Jernee was the beach patrol commander and chief of police – when he turned his lifeguards into Natty-looking traffic cops at night.
There weren’t any traffic lights, so Capt. Jernee asked the lifeguards if they wanted to work extra hours and direct traffic at the intersections.
Also, they would walk around town and meet people and answer questions. They were like walking information booths which earned widespread, favorable publicity for the resort.
Except or a three-year period when he served as Chief of Police, Capt. Jernee was officially never more than Capt. of the city’s beach patrol. However, in nearly every respect, his name became synonymous with local authority in the resort’s public image.
ocean city beach patrol
Public Relations
As an amateur public relations figure, Capt. Jernee had no equal. He is remembered as a man with “a knack for publicity.” For some reason he could generate a lot of press. His favorite expression was, “we have acres of diamonds in Ocean City. Polish them and make them shine.” He did all he could to do just that.
Jernee’s polishing techniques brought thousands of tourists to the town and contributed considerably to the local economy. Vacationers came to see many of Capt. Jernee’s innovations. All of these innovations (see section below) all amounted to public relations events, which Capt. Jernee saw as positive reflections of his hometown.
Capt. Jernee's innovations
Lifeguard HQ
Life Saving Can Buoy
Life Guard Stand
He had a Lifeguard Headquarters (modeled after a ship’s cabin) built at 10th St. and the Boardwalk. It was both a Lifeguard Headquarters and a Beach Hospital.
Life Guard Stand
Life Saving Can Buoy
Life Guard Stand
Capt. Jernee designed the lifeguard stands that are still in use today. A structure that give the guards both visibility and protection from the sun and painted red, white and blue. He had the lifeguards dress in those colors as well.
Life Saving Can Buoy
Life Saving Can Buoy
Daily Flag Raising Ceremony
The beach patrol used this life saving device for years. Two of these cans sat on a rack which was positioned right in front of the lifeguard stand. If someone was in need of rescuing The life guards would jump down off the stand and grab a can and head out into the water. The Victim could be propped up on the can or if they were able they could just hold onto the can.
Daily Flag Raising Ceremony
National Lifeguard Champions
Daily Flag Raising Ceremony
Daily flag raising ceremony in front of the Music Pier - Capt. Jernee suggested a tall, steel flagpole be erected in front of the Music Pier. This idea was disregarded but with the help of the local newspaper, he raised several hundred dollars and had the pole erected. Once completed he inaugurated daily flag raising and lowering ceremonies which were memorialized in both news paper reports and postcards. .
National Lifeguard Champions
National Lifeguard Champions
National Lifeguard Champions
The beach patrol became renowned nationally as one of the most skilled, competitive units ever to hit the Eastern seaboard. The beach patrol participated in and won National Lifeguard Championships in 1933, 1934 and 1935.
Water Circuses
National Lifeguard Champions
National Lifeguard Champions
Water circuses - held in a large pool at the Flanders Hotel where lifeguards and celebrities performed together. The water circus got so good they began touring in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Philadelphia Day
Philadelphia Day
Philadelphia Day
Philadelphia Day Parade was a way of thanking folks from Philadelphia that would visit and vacation in Ocean City.
Easter Egg Hunt
Philadelphia Day
Philadelphia Day
Before the days of plastic eggs, candy treats where placed in waxed sandwich bags and hidden in the sand for children to find. One year a small airplane flew over the beach and threw out treats which showered down on the children much to their delight.
Night in Venice
Philadelphia Day
Night in Venice
“Night in Venice” - Capt. Jernee saw a boat Parade in Washington DC one weekend and with the city’s public relations director at the time, he co-created the “Night in Venice”. The idea had died away for a while after they had done it for a couple of years but in 1955 it came back.