8/17/2019 Horry County Sheriff statement on consolidation of Horry County police and sheriff

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HORRY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Phillip E. Thompson, Sheriff 

Post Office Box 380 * Horry County Judicial Complex * 1301 2 nd Avenue * Conway, S.C. 29526

Office: (843) 915-5450 * Fax: (843) 915-6453 * www.HorryCounty.org

PRESS RELEASEContact: Sgt. Sherri Smith, Public Information Officer, (843)915-8571

May 11, 2015

For Immediate Release:

The Horry County Police Department was created over five decades ago as a result of a disputeamong elected officials of Horry County. As Horry County Sheriff, a proudly serving elected

official of Horry County, I am calling for the unification of the county law enforcement agencies.

I served twenty one years with the Horry County Police Department and have now served fifteen

years as Sheriff of Horry County. I am uniquely situated to bring these two departments

successfully and seamlessly together for the benefit of the people I serve and, in addition, for the

 benefit of the fine men and women of Horry County law enforcement. They, who serve eachday tirelessly and at great risk of personal harm, now have the opportunity to come together,

combine their resources in an effort to better serve the citizens of Horry County.

The consolidation of these departments is timely. To remain two separate departments is not in

the best interest of the citizens of Horry County and is not justifiable, either from a performance

or financial standpoint. Forty five of the forty six counties in this State have a single county lawenforcement agency, their Sheriff’s Office. Horry County alone maintains two departments. Thecitizens are deserving of a law enforcement agency that is accountable to them through one

elected official who serves at their pleasure.

As the Sheriff and Chief Law Enforcement Officer of Horry County, now is the time for our

council to bring this issue to the citizens of Horry County in the form of a referendum to decide

on the merger of law enforcement in this county. This consolidation will make county-wide lawenforcement more effective and more accountable to those we serve.