Horry County Police Department

Horry County Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency in Horry County, South Carolina. Originally established by legislative decree the department became the primary county law enforcement agency in 1959. Re-endorsed by the citizens of the county in 1998 referendum Horry County Police Department is the only remaining county police department in the state of South Carolina.

Horry County Police Department
Common nameCounty
AbbreviationHCPD
Agency overview
Formed1959
Employees316
Annual budget≈$20M
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionHorry, South Carolina, USA
Size1,255 square miles (3,250.4km)
Population269,2611
Operational structure
Sworn members281
Agency executives
  • Joseph R Hill, Chief
  • Lance Winburn, Deputy Chief
Facilities
Precincts4
Detention Centers1
Car ModelsFord Crown Victoria, Chevy Impala, Chevy Tahoe, Ford Taurus, Ford Explorer
Bloodhound Dogs4
K9 Dogs3
Website
[1] Horry County Police

Patrol area

Horry County Police are responsible for all traffic incidents that occur within the county and outside cities with their own Police Department. The municipalities of Aynor, Briarcliffe Acres, Conway Loris, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and Surfside all have their own police force. The county is broken into 4 precincts and 22 sectors; each precinct has its own station. [1]

Central Precinct

The Central precinct is made up of 4 patrol sectors (14-17). The Central precinct office is located in the M.L. Brown Public Safety Building in Conway.

Patrol Sector Area
14 Red Hill
15 Conway, Bucksport
16 Coastal Carolina University, Red Hill, Conway
17 Conway, Homewood

South Precinct

The South precinct is made up of 6 patrol sectors (1-6). The precinct office is located in the South Strand Complex on Scipio Lane in Burgess. The precinct is made up of 6 sectors 1-6. The South Precinct also includes the Airport Division and Beach Patrol.

Patrol Sector Area
1 Garden City, Surfside Beach
2 Burgess, Socastee
3 Surfside Beach, Myrtle Beach
4 Socastee
5 Myrtle Beach, Socastee, Market Common, MYR Airport
6 Forestbrook, Socastee, Carolina Forest

Myrtle Beach Intl. Airport Division

The Airport Division is responsible for 24 hour a day basic law enforcement functions and airport security. Led by one supervising Sergeant the 12 officers of the Airport Division patrol the airport ground by foot and vehicle. These officers are tasked with enforcing security requirements mandated by the Department of Homeland Security, and assisting TSA ensuring rules and regulations are followed.

Beach Patrol

Beach Patrol is responsible for the beachfront areas of the unincorporated areas of Horry County, such as Garden City Beach, Springmaid Beach, and the Lake Arrowhead area of Myrtle Beach. The team of 10 uniform officers use 4-wheel ATVs, jet skis and jet drive boats to patrol the coast and perform rescues. Unlike other uniform officers Beach Patrol receive specialized training in ocean life guard, personal watercraft operations and participate in open water training.

North Precinct

The North precinct is made up of 6 sectors (7-11). The precinct office is located behind the Ralph Ellis Building in Little River at Stephens Crossroads.

Patrol Sector Area
7 Myrtle Beach, Grande Dunes, Briarcliffe Acres
8 N. Myrtle Beach, Little River, Cherry Grove, Barefoot
9 Little River, Longs, Wampee, Brooksville
10 Conway, Longs, Hand
11 Carolina Forest, Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve
12 Carolina Forest, Pine Island

West Precinct

The West precinct is made up of 4 sectors (18-22). The precinct office is located off Mt. Olive Church Rd near Green Sea

Patrol Sector Area
18 Aynor, Galivants Ferry, Cool Spring
19 Aynor, Ketchuptown, Galivants Ferry, Green Sea
20 Green Sea, Duford, Floyds, Finklea
21 Loris, Conway, Allsbrook
22 Longs, Loris, Red Bluff, Daisy

Fallen officers

Dennis Lyden was shot by a driver Lyden attempted to stop.[2][3] The suspect was arrested two days later and convicted and sentenced to death in June 2001.[4] Corporal Michael Ambrosino died after contracting COVID-19 while on duty.

Innocents Killed

Beach patrol has killed at least two innocent people by running them over. [5]On May 24th, 2020, a Horry County Police Department officer ran over a woman who was lying on the beach in Garden City. [6] On June 13th, 2024, a Horry County Police Department officer ran over a woman who was lying on the beach in Myrtle Beach.

References

  1. ^ "Horry County Police".
  2. ^ "Corporal Dennis James Lyden".
  3. ^ Liverman, Marc (5 June 2013). "13 years later and Corporal Dennis Lyden is not forgotten".
  4. ^ "Stay of execution granted for Longs man in Horry County police officer slaying".
  5. ^ "HCPD patrol car hit person lying on beach in Garden City".
  6. ^ "The most powerful scream: Women dies after being hit by HCPD truck on beach".