Another Round in Ocean City Beach Patrol vs. U.S. Lifesaving Association

In a March 27 letter, Ocean City Business Administrator Mike Dattilo fires back at the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA), which had for recertification in November 2011.

Dattilo pointed out inconsistencies in the USLA's decision and policy changes that were never communicated. (See attached PDF to read the complete text of Dattilo's letter.)

The argument is of little consequence. USLA certification is a form of recognition for lifeguarding agencies but is not required by any governmental body. Lifeguard agencies pay the USLA $300 for a three-year certification period and the honor of saying they meet USLA standards. The denial has no impact on the continuing operations of the OCBP.

In a Nov. 22, 2011, letter, the USLA's National Certification Committee cited the following areas of concern:

1. A Ocean City Ethics Board ruling in 2009 that Ocean City Beach Patrol Operations Chief Tom Mullineaux "waived mandatory swim test requirements for certain people." Dattilo's letter points out that: 1) Mullineaux refutes the finding and is in the process of an appeal, and 2) The ruling deals only with an OCBP-specific swimming requalification test in a pool ... Returning OCBP guards also complete the USLA-required 500-meter ocean swim.
2. Ocean City's deadline for returning lifeguards to complete a 500-meter ocean swim within 10 minutes is July 25, while the USLA asks that all personnel complete the test before returning to work. Dattilo notes that the OCBP had been certified since 2002 while maintaining the same schedule for the ocean swims. He said a USLA email hinted that changes may be coming, but the OCBP was never notified of any actual policy change. 
3. Ocean City exempts the operations chief from physical requalification tests, while the USLA requires that "all lifeguards meet the 500 meter in 10 minute standard." Dattilo said the operations chief position is purely administrative. He suggested that if anybody with beach patrol administrative oversight were required to be tested, the fire chief and the business administrator himself would be required to pass an ocean swimming test.
4. The USLA asked for a copy of a written policy on swim testing. Dattilo's letter attaches Ocean City's written policy.

The USLA letter suggested the committee would reconsider the decision if Ocean City addressed the outstanding issues.

The only other New Jersey organizations with current certification are beach patrols in Avon, Brick, Cape May, Cape May Point, Monmouth Beach, Ocean Grove, Sea Bright, Sea Girt and Surf City, according to the USLA website.