HORRY COUNTY SHERIFFS 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 RELEASE
Contact: 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 dispute
among 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 each
day 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 law
enforcement agency, their Sheriffs Office. Horry County alone maintains two departments. The
citizens 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 law
enforcement more effective and more accountable to those we serve.