The Horry County police chief is Kris Leonhardt, sworn in on October 3, 2024, after a nationwide search and more than two decades inside the agency.1Horry County SC.Gov. New HCPD Chief of Police Sworn In He leads the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated Horry County, South Carolina — roughly 1,133 square miles and more than 427,000 residents — and the only remaining county police department in the state.2Horry County SC.Gov. Police That distinction matters, because in every other South Carolina county the elected sheriff fills this role.
Who Kris Leonhardt Is
Leonhardt moved to Horry County from Lincolnton, North Carolina, in early childhood and graduated from North Myrtle Beach High School. He earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Horry Georgetown Technical College and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Liberty University.3Horry County SC.Gov. Chief Kris Leonhardt He joined the department as a patrol officer in 2002 and worked through nearly every operational level before taking the top job, with assignments in beach patrol, narcotics, training, and SWAT command.
His certifications span motor officer, river patrol, firearms instructor, SWAT commander, bomb squad commander, and narcotics commander. He has also completed the FBI Command School and the FBI LEEDA Trilogy leadership program.3Horry County SC.Gov. Chief Kris Leonhardt He succeeded Joseph Hill, who had led the department since 2016.1Horry County SC.Gov. New HCPD Chief of Police Sworn In
Who the Chief Answers To
The chief reports directly to the Horry County Administrator, currently Barry Spivey, who oversees more than 30 county departments organized into public safety, administration, and infrastructure and regulation divisions. The police department sits in the public safety division.4Horry County SC.Gov. Administrator Above the Administrator sits the Horry County Council, which approves the department’s annual budget and any major capital spending. The chief regularly briefs the Council on crime trends, staffing, and public safety programs.
That setup is fundamentally different from the rest of the state. In other counties, an elected sheriff answers directly to voters and operates with broad constitutional authority. In Horry County, the police chief is an appointed professional manager answerable to the Administrator, while a separate elected sheriff’s office also operates in the county.5South Carolina Encyclopedia. Sheriffs and Constables The department has split the county into five precincts to manage response times across the territory.
What the Chief Is Responsible For
Day-to-day, the chief sets department policy and standard operating procedures, directs the budget, and oversees specialized units including criminal investigations, uniform patrol, and narcotics. Personnel decisions — promotions, discipline, training priorities — run through the chief’s office. So does officer deployment during large events and local emergencies, which is a significant piece of the job in a county that absorbs enormous seasonal population swings tied to the Myrtle Beach tourism corridor.
Use of Force Standards
The department operates under use-of-force standards shaped by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Graham v. Connor, which requires that any force be “objectively reasonable” when judged from the perspective of an officer on the scene. The Department of Justice policy framework specifies that officers may use force only when no reasonably effective and safe alternative exists, and that deadly force is limited to situations where someone poses an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury.6United States Department of Justice. Department of Justice Policy On Use Of Force Officers may not use deadly force solely to prevent a fleeing suspect’s escape, and firearms may not be discharged at a moving vehicle unless someone inside is threatening others with deadly force beyond the vehicle itself.
Accreditation
The department holds state accreditation through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation program, which requires agencies to demonstrate compliance with professional standards covering policies, procedures, and operational practices.
Why Horry County Has a Police Chief at All
The Horry County Police Department was created in 1959 by legislative act, originally governed by a six-member police commission appointed by the Horry County Legislative Delegation.7Horry County SC.Gov. History of HCPD When the county later moved to an Administrator-Council form of government, the commission was dissolved and appointment authority shifted to the County Administrator.
Residents reaffirmed the department’s existence in a 1998 referendum. That vote was required by South Carolina law, which calls for a public referendum before any county can create or maintain a police department that duplicates or replaces a sheriff’s law enforcement functions.8South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 4-9-33 – Referendum Required The South Carolina Attorney General’s office has consistently recognized sheriffs as the chief law enforcement officers for unincorporated areas statewide, which makes the Horry County arrangement a genuine outlier.9South Carolina Attorney General. Attorney General Opinion – Law Enforcement Agencies Authority Crime Traffic Accident Scenes
How the Chief Is Chosen
Since the police commission was dissolved, the County Administrator appoints the chief, evaluating candidates on leadership experience, operational track record, and strategic vision.7Horry County SC.Gov. History of HCPD Leonhardt’s appointment followed a nationwide search but also drew on 22 years of internal experience across nearly every division.1Horry County SC.Gov. New HCPD Chief of Police Sworn In
South Carolina law requires every law enforcement officer to obtain certification through the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy before exercising arrest powers or directing members of the public. Officers hired without certification have one year to complete it and must work alongside a certified officer in the meantime.10South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code Title 23 Chapter 23 – Law Enforcement Officers Basic training for a Class I certification runs 12 weeks, followed by 40 hours of continuing education every three years, including a mental health or addictive disorders course, at least one legal update course per year, and at least one domestic violence course per year.11South Carolina Legislature. Law Enforcement Certifications A chief must hold and maintain that certification on top of any leadership credentials the Administrator requires.
Contacting the Chief’s Office or Filing a Complaint
Complaints about officer conduct are handled by the department’s Professional Standards unit. Horry County Police provides a Citizen Complaint and Inquiry Form that can be downloaded from the agency’s website, filled out, and either mailed or delivered in person to the department’s Conway headquarters at 2560 North Main Street, Suite 7. Professional Standards also accepts phone calls and email, and commendations for officer performance go through the same channels.12Horry County SC.Gov. Professional Standards Residents can also raise concerns at public safety committee meetings, where the chief presents departmental updates and discusses policy changes.