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| Myrtle Beach Police Department | |
|---|---|
| Agencyname | Myrtle Beach Police Department |
| Abbreviation | MBPD |
| Formed | 1938 |
| Employees | 250+ |
| Budget | $20 million+ |
| Country | United States |
| Subdivision type | City |
| Subdivision name | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina |
| Sizearea | 23.3 sq mi |
| Sizepopulation | 36,000 (seasonal spike) |
| Headquarters | Myrtle Beach City Hall |
| Sworn | 200+ |
| Unsworn | 50+ |
| Chief1name | Michael J. Hawkins |
| Chief1position | Chief of Police |
Myrtle Beach Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency serving the city of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a coastal municipality on the Grand Strand. The department operates amid a major tourism corridor that includes nearby municipalities such as North Myrtle Beach and Horry County, interfacing with state and federal entities including the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. MBPD's roles range from routine patrols along Ocean Boulevard to coordinated responses with the United States Coast Guard and South Carolina Highway Patrol during peak seasonal events.
The department traces its origins to municipal policing practices in the 1930s when Myrtle Beach began developing as a resort destination, paralleling growth seen in Charleston, South Carolina and Hilton Head Island. Early decades featured small-town policing similar to agencies in Conway, South Carolina and Georgetown, South Carolina, evolving after World War II with influences from national reforms such as the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. During the late 20th century the department expanded alongside tourism-driven urbanization comparable to Orlando, Florida and Virginia Beach, Virginia, adapting crowd-control techniques used at events like the Myrtle Beach Bike Week and coordinating with agencies after incidents reminiscent of responses seen in Daytona Beach, Florida festivals. Recent history includes modernization efforts reflecting trends from the Department of Justice consent decree examples and municipal accreditation movements led by bodies like the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
MBPD is organized into divisions paralleling structures in municipal agencies such as the Richmond Police Department (Virginia) and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Key bureaus include Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Special Operations, and Administrative Services, each overseen by command staff with ranks akin to those in the Los Angeles Police Department and New York City Police Department hierarchies. Specialized units mirror regional counterparts: a Traffic Unit coordinated with the South Carolina Department of Transportation, a Marine Unit interoperable with the United States Coast Guard Sector Charleston, and a K-9 Unit modeled after programs in Greenville Police Department (South Carolina). Mutual aid agreements link MBPD with Horry County Police Department and neighboring municipal police forces during large-scale events or emergencies.
Routine operations encompass patrols on commercial corridors such as Ocean Boulevard (Myrtle Beach) and response to calls for service across residential districts like the Carolina Forest community. The Criminal Investigations Division handles major offenses, working with prosecutorial offices including the Horry County Solicitor's Office and federal prosecutors from the United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina. Traffic enforcement and accident investigation coordinate with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on safety campaigns. Event policing for gatherings such as Myrtle Beach Bike Week and holiday concentrations aligns MBPD with venue operators and municipal departments akin to partnerships seen between NASCAR event security and local police in Daytona International Speedway contexts.
MBPD employs patrol vehicles and tactical equipment comparable to fleets used by the Savannah Police Department (Georgia) and Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Standard-issue items include patrol sedans, motorcycles for traffic enforcement, and marine craft compatible with operations performed alongside the United States Coast Guard. Communication and records management systems integrate software from vendors used by agencies such as the FBI’s data-sharing initiatives and statewide systems like the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division databases. Body-worn cameras and in-car video systems reflect technology adoption trending among municipal forces including the Seattle Police Department and Baltimore Police Department. For forensic support, MBPD coordinates evidence processing with regional crime labs referenced in workflows used by the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
Community engagement programs mirror initiatives from the Police Athletic/Activities League (PAL) and neighborhood outreach models used in Columbia, South Carolina and Greenville, South Carolina. MBPD operates youth engagement, citizen academy, and business-watch programs that coordinate with hospitality stakeholders like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and tourism entities such as the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Public safety campaigns and community forums are conducted in partnership with schools in the Horry County School District and social service organizations similar to collaborations seen with United Way chapters. Seasonal outreach targets visitors and short-term residents in coordination with lodging associations and event promoters.
As with many municipal agencies, MBPD has faced public scrutiny over high-profile incidents and use-of-force investigations that drew attention similar to cases in Ferguson, Missouri and Charleston, South Carolina. Incidents have prompted internal reviews, external inquiries involving the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and civil litigation processed in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. Media coverage by outlets with parallels to reporting in The Sun News (South Carolina) and national commentary from organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union have shaped public debate over transparency and accountability. Policy reforms and body-camera adoption followed oversight recommendations akin to those advanced after national civil-rights era inquiries.
Officer training follows state-mandated curricula administered through academies like the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and continuing education standards observed by agencies accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). MBPD officers receive certifications in firearms, defensive tactics, and de-escalation tactics similar to training regimens at the FBI National Academy and regional programs offered by the North Carolina Justice Academy. Collaborative training exercises are conducted with neighboring jurisdictions including the Horry County Police Department and state-level partners to prepare for coastal emergencies and large-event security.
Category:Municipal police departments in South Carolina Category:Organizations based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina