MYRTLE BEACH — In less than a month, Myrtle Beach police heard from 40 people interested in volunteering to be a part of the department’s cold case team to review unsolved crimes.

Police officials closed the application process to begin sorting through the pool of possible volunteers to fill the team, Myrtle Beach Capt. David Knipes said. Officials are conducting background checks on the applicants and are preparing to contact them for first interviews.

Myrtle Beach police began seeking applications in mid-February hoping to tap former law enforcement professionals with investigative experience living in the area to review unsolved crimes. It is the first time the department has formed such a team, but it is not a new concept in law enforcement.

Team members will volunteer their time to work alongside Myrtle Beach detectives in reviewing cases “where leads have dwindled and are at a standstill,” Knipes said in February.

“Anything of a violent perspective that is still open such as rapes, robberies or murders will be higher priority cases and will be the ones to be opened first,” Knipes said.

Because detectives are tasked with high case loads, the volunteer investigators would help provide a “fresh set of eyes to the unsolved cases,” Knipes said.

Officials do not have a set number of cases to review, but said they plan to use the team as needed for reviews. Knipes said officials hope the team is in place later this spring to begin their work.

Contact TONYA ROOT at 444-1723 or follow her at Twitter.com/tonyaroot.