OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Horry County Public Safety Committee Meeting - September 10, 2024

County CouncilTuesday, September 10, 2024
BodyHorry County, South Carolina
SessionCounty Council
DateTuesday, September 10, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 34:29

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

To order September 10th 24.

0:04

This time we'll ask Mr.

0:06

Councilman Anderson if you'll use the invocation and legible.

0:09

Ladies and gentlemen, if you please stand.

0:15

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to gather today to uh support our public safety officers.

0:22

Dear Father, we ask continued blessings on them.

0:25

We ask for encouragement and uh patience in our decisions, and uh we do all this in your name.

0:31

Amen.

0:33

Ladies and gentlemen, attention to the flag.

0:35

I pledged leaders to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and individual liberty and justice for all.

0:54

We have no public input, so review and approval in the content.

1:00

Second.

1:01

All in favor?

1:03

Aye.

1:03

All right.

1:04

Approval of amendment for August 6, 2024.

1:07

Seconded.

1:08

All in favor?

1:09

Aye.

1:12

Resolutions.

1:14

Firevention week.

1:17

Chief Dorkin.

1:22

Good afternoon, everyone.

1:24

We're requesting a resolution recognizing National Fire Prevention Week.

1:36

They pick a theme each year, and this year's smoke alarms make them work for you.

1:41

40 County responds to 200, over 200 structure fires a year.

1:46

So we're uh we take this uh very seriously.

1:49

Uh we're already in the public giving out smoke detectors and checking people's batteries, make sure they're up to date.

1:56

This is gives a national uh recognition to it, and we're looking for a resolution.

2:03

Mr.

2:04

Chairman, I'd like to make a motion.

2:05

We move forward with staff's recommendation in this proposal.

2:09

All in favor?

2:10

Aye.

2:11

Thank you.

2:12

Thank you.

2:14

Gang Street Crimes Unit, Lieutenant Delena.

2:18

Yes, sir.

2:20

Good afternoon, thank you, Mr.

2:21

Chairman, committee members.

2:23

Uh, since this is my first time speaking before you, I'd like to introduce myself.

2:27

My name is Corey Delina.

2:28

I'm the lieutenant uh over the narcotics division, uh, which includes the street crimes and the newly formed gang unit.

2:35

I'm here today to provide an operational briefing in regard to the agency's response uh to an uptick in violent crime that has occurred over the last several months.

2:44

The street crimes and gang units began tracking a trend of violent crime that was occurring uh primarily in the western and northern portion of the county, uh, which consisted of 135 weapons-related incidents, uh ranging from attempted murders, murders, home invasions, carjackings, auto thefts, uh, and uh numerous drive-by shootings.

3:05

Uh in doing so, uh, we learned that two criminal gang sets were operating operating throughout the county uh that they were targeting each other.

3:13

Uh these gangs were identified by our gang unit uh to be bloods and crypts.

3:18

Uh, we further learned throughout the investigation that uh these gangs were being supported by another set of the gangster disciples.

3:26

They joined forces with the Crips to target the bloods.

3:30

Uh the violent acts continued to occur at varying times uh to include the middle of the day where bloods and crypts were seen being involved in drive-by shootings occurring along the Highway 9 corridor in broad daylight.

3:44

In an attempt to combat this violence, uh, with the support of our Bureau Captain Justin White and Deputy Chief Chris Lanhart, along with all members of command staff, uh the gang unit was formed, and we were able to strategize a plan utilizing new methods that we haven't uh approached uh in the past.

4:03

The task force mobilized uh it outline outlined a four-prong approach uh that was going to occur uh simultaneously systematically to provide uh a two-week continual presence of law enforcement in these areas of high crime.

4:18

Phase one consisted of utilizing the United States Marshall's task force uh to locate and arrest 30 wanted subjects, most of which were known gang members, blood scripts uh andor gangster disciples, or had a close affiliation with known gang members.

4:35

Uh these targets were identified by our agency street crimes and gang unit, and the list was compiled.

4:42

Uh phase two uh consisted of the street crimes unit, narcotics, and gang units uh launching a saturation uh effort along the Highway 9 corridor, stretching from uh the North Carolina border and Little River all the way up to Green Sea.

5:00

Those efforts led us into portions of the city of Conway as well as Myrtle Beach as well.

5:05

Phase three was the street crimes, narcotics, and gang units, utilizing uh most updated surveillance techniques, confidential informants, uh community tips, and we were able to execute several search warrants on structures known to sell narcotics or known to be residents where uh gang known gang members, violent gang members gathered.

5:29

And phase four uh was we got environmental services involved.

5:33

Uh they went out in the same area from the Little River to Green Sea to address quality of life issues in a lot of these neighborhoods.

5:42

Uh they provided assistance through education uh for those who are willing to accept that, and they issued citations where it was warranted.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety█████████████████████████████████████████████45%
Mental Health Awareness█████████████████████████████29%
Public Transportation█████████9%
Technology and Innovation█████████9%
Procedural████4%
Emergency Management████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Horry County Public Safety Committee Meeting - September 10, 2024

The Horry County Public Safety Committee met on September 10, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. in the County Council Conference Room. Chairman Danny Hardee presided. The meeting featured updates on gang violence reduction, crisis intervention, harm reduction, and 911/radio system upgrades. No public input was offered. All agenda items and motions were approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

  • The agenda and minutes from August 6, 2024, were approved unanimously.

Resolutions

  • Fire Prevention Week Recognition (Chief Tanner): The committee approved a resolution designating October 6-12, 2024, as Fire Prevention Week with the theme "Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!" Chief Tanner noted Horry County Fire Rescue responds to over 200 structure fires annually and has installed more than 3,000 smoke alarms since 2020. Motion carried.

Discussion Items

  • Gang/Street Crimes Unit (Lt. Corey Dulina): Lt. Dulina presented an operational briefing on a two-week task force targeting an uptick in violent crime primarily in the western and northern parts of the county, linked to Bloods, Crips, and Gangster Disciples. The operation resulted in 80 arrests, 46 wanted subjects, 58 firearms seized (8 automatic), 40 identified gang members, and seizures of over $18,000 (currency), 65 grams of methamphetamine, 60 grams of fentanyl, 40 grams of crack cocaine, and 50 grams of powder cocaine. Since the operation, only five weapon-related incidents have occurred. The task force involved collaboration with the U.S. Marshals Service, ATF, FBI, HSI, DEA, SLED, and the Horry County Sheriff's Office. In response to a question, Lt. Dulina noted the challenge of building community trust in rural areas.
  • Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Stats (Scott Caulderwood): Scott Caulderwood reported that since launching on April 8, 2024, the CIT program has made 1,134 contacts through August 31. In August alone, there were 316 contacts, with no arrests while a CIT member was on scene—a first. The program employs four licensed counselors who respond with officers. Efforts include diversion from jail or hospital, connecting individuals to outpatient services, and family outreach. A door-hanger program and coordination with the sheriff's department for emergency protective custody were highlighted. Committee members praised the program as a valuable tool.
  • Harm Reduction Stats (Chief Ben Lawson): Chief Lawson reported that since the harm reduction program's inception in November 2023, 702 individuals have entered the program, 395 have been connected to peer recovery services, 29 to housing, 14 to employment, and 1,500 have received overdose response training. Narcan administrations by Horry County Fire Rescue have been cut in half compared to previous years. Two new initiatives were announced: "Give One, Leave One" (leaving Narcan behind after administration) and "Handle with Care" (partnering with Horry County Schools to support children exposed to traumatic events—the first fire department in South Carolina to do so). Future plans include veteran outreach, middle/high school education, and expanded community training. Several success stories were shared.
  • ESInet/Radio Upgrade (Renee Hardwick): Renee Hardwick reported that a "round robin" test on August 28 successfully demonstrated that 911 calls could be seamlessly transferred among Horry, Berkeley, Charleston, and other partner counties via the ESInet system—a first in the nation. This ensures no call goes unanswered if a center must evacuate. Additionally, a radio system upgrade (Motorola core replacement) now allows over-the-air programming and encryption, saving time for officers and first responders. Dead spots are actively being addressed in partnership with Horry Telephone Cooperative; coverage map review is scheduled for the following week. Committee members noted the importance of this redundancy, particularly for hurricane scenarios.

Key Outcomes

  • The resolution for Fire Prevention Week was approved unanimously.
  • The committee received and discussed the Gang/Street Crimes Unit operational briefing, CIT statistics, harm reduction updates, and the ESInet/radio upgrade report.
  • No formal votes were taken on the discussion items; they were informational.
  • The next Public Safety Committee meeting is scheduled for October 8, 2024.

Meeting Transcript

To order September 10th 24. This time we'll ask Mr. Councilman Anderson if you'll use the invocation and legible. Ladies and gentlemen, if you please stand. Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to gather today to uh support our public safety officers. Dear Father, we ask continued blessings on them. We ask for encouragement and uh patience in our decisions, and uh we do all this in your name. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, attention to the flag. I pledged leaders to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and individual liberty and justice for all. We have no public input, so review and approval in the content. Second. All in favor? Aye. All right. Approval of amendment for August 6, 2024. Seconded. All in favor? Aye. Resolutions. Firevention week. Chief Dorkin. Good afternoon, everyone. We're requesting a resolution recognizing National Fire Prevention Week. They pick a theme each year, and this year's smoke alarms make them work for you. 40 County responds to 200, over 200 structure fires a year. So we're uh we take this uh very seriously. Uh we're already in the public giving out smoke detectors and checking people's batteries, make sure they're up to date. This is gives a national uh recognition to it, and we're looking for a resolution. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion. We move forward with staff's recommendation in this proposal. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. Thank you. Gang Street Crimes Unit, Lieutenant Delena. Yes, sir. Good afternoon, thank you, Mr. Chairman, committee members. Uh, since this is my first time speaking before you, I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Corey Delina. I'm the lieutenant uh over the narcotics division, uh, which includes the street crimes and the newly formed gang unit. I'm here today to provide an operational briefing in regard to the agency's response uh to an uptick in violent crime that has occurred over the last several months. The street crimes and gang units began tracking a trend of violent crime that was occurring uh primarily in the western and northern portion of the county, uh, which consisted of 135 weapons-related incidents, uh ranging from attempted murders, murders, home invasions, carjackings, auto thefts, uh, and uh numerous drive-by shootings. Uh in doing so, uh, we learned that two criminal gang sets were operating operating throughout the county uh that they were targeting each other. Uh these gangs were identified by our gang unit uh to be bloods and crypts. Uh, we further learned throughout the investigation that uh these gangs were being supported by another set of the gangster disciples. They joined forces with the Crips to target the bloods. Uh the violent acts continued to occur at varying times uh to include the middle of the day where bloods and crypts were seen being involved in drive-by shootings occurring along the Highway 9 corridor in broad daylight.

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