# 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.

## 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.

### 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. The suspect was arrested two days later and convicted and sentenced to death in June 2001. 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. On May 24, 2020, a Horry County Police Department officer ran over a woman who was lying on the beach in Garden City. On June 13, 2024, a Horry County Police Department officer ran over a woman who was lying on the beach in Myrtle Beach.