Rash of summer shootings causes increased police presence along Ocean Boulevard

Police presence along Ocean Boulevard is increasing, thanks to a temporary Myrtle Beach police station that is up and running.

The station, which originally was planned for the corner of 8th Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard, is now located at the intersection of 2nd Avenue North and Ocean Boulevard, across from the Second Avenue Pier.

Terry and Joyce Collins, owners of the pier, also own the land where the station is located. The parking lot located in front of the pier is city property.

“We leased them the property that is already being used for parking, so now it’s basically their own exclusive use,” said John Pedersen, Myrtle Beach city manager. “In return, they leased us a property on the west side, so nobody is paying anything for this. We leased it to them for a year; they leased it to us for a year.”

Now, the office increases the police presence further south along the Boulevard, with the police Sky Watch Tower already located on the pavilion side.

After several shootings during Father’s Day weekend, the office is one of the many moves by the city to increase safety along Ocean Boulevard.

“It’s an abbreviated solution, but I think it’ll have an impact,” Councilman Phil Render told The Sun News in August. “I’m not against the work station concept, particularly when time is an issue. We can do that pretty quickly.”

Now, with the structure up and finishing touches being made to landscape, police can use the building to interview witnesses and victims.

“It looks as though the back of the station is to Ocean Boulevard,” Pedersen said. “The idea is if the police would like to use it, not only for officers on-break or to do some work, but if they need to interview a victim, if they need to interview a witness they could bring them in. And they don’t want to do that in a totally visible way.”

This story was originally published September 26, 2017 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Rash of summer shootings causes increased police presence along Ocean Boulevard."