Horry County Police Chief Kris Leonhardt stood before the press tonight, took the heat, and defended why his department is unique in the State of S.C.
Horry County is unique in the state because Horry County Council oversees the county police department’s operations. In the state’s other 45 counties, county police is run and managed by the Sheriff.
Understanding Horry County’s Unique Police Structure Under Chief Kris Leonhardt
Chief Kris Leonhardt mentioned that residents are bound to their elected sheriff, unless the sheriff engages in criminal activity.
MyrtleBeachSC News reviewed numerous previous problems involving Horry County Police. Chief Kris Leonhardt mentioned that in such cases, the police chief could potentially be dismissed by the Assistant County Manager, the County Manager, or County Council members when asked about residents’ recourse.
He explained that a large number of individuals were part of the hiring and firing processes due to the multiple people he was answerable to. Yet, he never mentioned one particular individual along the chain of command that he was accountable to.
U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Mace is running for Governor, with Horry County Police and Attorney General Alan Wilson playing key roles in the investigation of the Scott Spivey shooting on Camp Swamp Road.
Three officers faced discipline in the matter. The State Law Enforcement Division is still investigating Horry County Police over officer behavior in the matter.
Horry County Administrator Barry Spivey wrote to South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Chief Mark Keel on April 30th, asking for the agency to resume its inquiry of the Horry County Police Department. Horry County Council Chairman Johnny Gardner contacted Gov. Henry McMaster to request his involvement in prompting SLED to conduct a fresh investigation of Gardner’s own police department.
Horry County Police have now identified and fired Patrol Division Sergeant Paul Damon Vescovi. Deputy Chief Brandon Strickland of Horry County Police resigned in mid-March, a day prior to the announcement of a SLED investigation.
Former Horry County Detective Allen Large faced indictments in 2016 from a Horry County grand jury. The charges included five counts of criminal sexual conduct, accusing him of pressuring victims involved in his investigations to partake in sexual acts. He was also charged with six counts of misconduct in office. Additionally, Large was indicted for allegedly operating a prostitution ring while serving as an officer of HCPD.
In 2016, a woman filed a lawsuit against ex-Horry County Police Chief Saundra Rhodes and multiple officers alleging they were aware of Detective Alan Large’s prostitution operation but did not intervene.
Horry County Police Chief Rhodes chose to retire.
S.C. Representative William Bailey has filed legislation that would migrate Horry County Police away from being managed by Horry County Council, putting the department under the jurisdiction of the Horry County Sheriff’s Department.
Should the legislation become law, the migration could begin in 2026.
Horry County Police Chief Kris Leonhardt said he has been with the department for 20 years and was aware of the above issues.
