Former Ocean City Police Chief Benjamin Dungan Dies at 89

Benjamin Lewis “Ben” Dungan, 89, of Ocean City, passed away Sept. 1, 2011 at his home.

Ben was born in Tuckerton, NJ and his family moved to Ocean City at his age of one. He attended local schools graduating in 1940. Ben was a member of the Ocean City Beach Patrol from 1939 until 1942 and had worked in defense plant in Philadelphia from 1940 until 1941.

He enlisted in the service as Apprentice Seaman in 1942 serving 3 ½ years on sea duty on various ships re: Troop Transport, USS Leonard Wood and USCG Cutter Mayflower (sub patrol and convoy escort duty). Ben was honorably discharged in 1946 as Chief Machinest Mate and joined the Ocean City Police Department in 1946 as Patrolman moving up through the ranks via Civil Service Exams to Sgt in June of 1954. He was then assigned to the Detective Bureau and attended many police department service schools and courses run by the State Police and F.B.I. He was #1 on the Civil Service test for Chief of Police and was appointed Chief on May 1, 1965. There, he steered the department through many changes from three small rooms on the first floor of city hall to a modern police department after converting the Central Avenue School into the Public Safety Building. Ben began local training programs for regular men and the first school program for summer patrolmen in the State of New Jersey and was first in the area to have a full time training officer and classroom equipped with films and books.

Ben was a charter member of the Cape May Chief’s Association, serving as Secretary and President. He was a member of the Atlantic County Chief’s Association and served as Liason Officer to Cape May County, where they honored him with a life membership. Ben was a member of the Delaware Valley Association of Professional Police Officers, a member of the International Association of Police Chiefs, the New Jersey Chief of Police Association, and the South Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police. He was a 27 year member of Ocean City P.B.A. Local #61 serving as Secretary, President and State Delegate. Ben was partner and founding member of Retired Police and Fireman, Lodge #7, Cape-Cumberland and Atlantic, a former member of the Ocean City Kiwanis Club and a Charter member of Ferguson-Foglio Post #6650 V.F.W. in Ocean City, NJ  Ben retired from the Ocean City Police Department in March of 1976 after 30 years of service to Ocean City.

Surviving are his wife, Florence H. Dungan (nee Taccarino) of Ocean City, NJ, a son, Benjamin Dungan, Jr. (Beverlie) of Ocean City, NJ, a daughter, Bonnie Ault (Pete) of Ocean City, NJ, a sister, Mary Green (Jule) of Ocean City, NJ, a sister in law, Annette Dungan of Ocean City, NJ, two grandchildren, Sandy and Ben, III, one great grandchild, Taylor Dungan and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, George Dungan, Jr. All were loved dearly by him.

 His Funeral Service will be offered Wednesday at 12 o’clock noon from St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, Eighth Street at Central Avenue, Ocean City, NJ where friends may call from ten o’clock until the time of service. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Tuckerton, NJ.

The family suggests those who desire send memorial contributions to either the Ocean City Historical Museum, 1735 Simpson Avenue, Ocean City, NJ 08226 or the Ocean City Humane Society, PO Box 1254, Ocean City, NJ 08226.

To email condolences, visit www.godfreyfuneralhome.com.