Horry County police Chief Johnny Morgan to retire

Johnny Morgan is turning in his badge.

The Horry County police chief announced his retirement Friday.

Morgan, who has 41 years of service in law enforcement including 38 years with the county police, announced he will officially retire on June 30, said Lisa Bourcier, Horry County spokeswoman. Morgan’s last day on the job will be Feb. 17 and he will be on extended leave until then.

Capt. Saundra Rhodes was appointed as interim chief until Morgan’s replacement is named.

In a statement, Morgan said he had mixed emotions about his retirement.

“My whole life has been in law enforcement and these fine men and women that serve to protect our county are my family and I will miss them. It is a sad day, but on the other hand one I have been looking forward to. My intention was always to leave this year, however, due to the SLED investigation I felt my retirement wasn’t even a thought until such time as the department was cleared and the case against the department was closed. That day has now come and it is time for me to leave. I would like to thank the county for the many opportunities I have been afforded through my 38 years of employment with the Horry County Police Department. I am also grateful for a fulfilling career in which I was given every opportunity to make a difference in this great community.”

Morgan’s announcement comes two days after the State Law Enforcement Division cleared the department of any wrongdoing concerning evidence handling and allegations of thefts from the evidence room made in an anonymous letter sent in August to Horry County Council and other elected officials. In October, officials asked SLED to investigate the allegations, which included mishandling of evidence, missing drugs and money from the room.

The state attorney general’s office issued a statement Tuesday that the claims made in the anonymous letter lacked prosecutorial merit and they would not proceed further with the investigation.

Former Horry County Administrator John Weaver headed up an internal investigation on the county level into the allegations and told council there was no basis for any of the nine allegations in the letter, but County Council members remained uneasy about the accusations of theft from the evidence room and requested the SLED audit.

A month later, a separation agreement between Weaver and the county was approved on Nov. 15, ending Weaver’s 11 years of service as both administrator and county attorney.

Morgan was named Horry County’s police chief in September 2004 after Paul Goward resigned to become chief in Winter Haven, Fla., Bourcier said.

“Johnny has served our county well and has led our police department to be one of the finest police departments in this state. His knowledge of the county, the department and his policing philosophy will be missed,” said Paul Whitten, Horry County’s assistant county administrator for public safety.

Greg Hembree, the 15th Circuit Solicitor, said Morgan, who came up through the ranks of the department, had “seen it all and done it all.”

“Johnny is a true cop’s cop. Coming up through the ranks, he understands the job as good as anybody in Horry County,” Hembree said Friday afternoon. “I know that he could relate to everybody in the department because he had been there at some time. He has the highest integrity and great work ethic and he is a true professional all the way around.”

Myrtle Beach’s police Chief Warren Gall said he hopes Morgan has a long and healthy retirement.

“He served the citizens of Horry County as a law enforcement officer for many years, and made many sacrifices as a public servant,” Gall said. “I hope he gets to enjoy his time away from the pressures of this profession. I wish him the very best.”

Morgan’s four decades in law enforcement was astonishing to Hembree, who said “That’s amazing. What a tremendous accomplishment.”

“His heart and soul is a police officer and we were lucky to have him as chief for as long as we have,” Hembree said.

As for Rhodes taking over the county’s top police job, Hembree said he is excited to work with a “dear friend.”

“That’s a great move,” Hembree said. “She’s respected by law enforcement throughout the county. That’s a great choice.”

Morgan has had numerous accomplishments throughout his tenure with the county, including the development and implementation of the first training program and the first policy and procedure manual, according to county officials. Morgan was also responsible for the creation of the department’s specialized units including homicide, SWAT and crime scene.

Morgan is a graduate of Horry-Georgetown Technical College, the state Criminal Justice Academy and the FBI Academy.