Surfside Beach investigating high police turnover. Is longtime chief’s job on the line?
A recently initiated investigation into turnover within the Surfside Beach Police Department could become a referendum on its longtime chief.
The town council voted 4-3 last week to look into the perceived retention issue, with Mayor Rob Krouse casting the deciding vote. He told The Sun News he’s heard some concerns from residents and wants to get a “definitive answer.”
At least nine officers and two other department employees have left since Dec. 2022, according to a review of public reports and documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests. SBPD currently has 17 sworn officers, according to Chief Kenneth Hofmann.
“We’re taking it seriously, but it doesn’t mean any conclusions have been reached,” Krouse said. “But we want the rumor mill to stop, and the best way is to do a conclusive investigation.”
More than a dozen of those active officers showed up to last week’s council meeting to voice their support of Hofmann after discussion of the chief’s employment was listed under executive session on the agenda.
Krouse told The Sun News that removing Hofmann as chief was never under consideration. He was sworn in as the town’s chief in 2017, according to previous Sun News reporting.
Hofmann said he’s looking forward to resolving any ongoing rumors and hopes the inquiry results in positive changes to address the “real factors” impacting turnover, which is an issue at police departments nationwide, including salary and benefits.
“I have no need to hide anything,” he said in an interview with The Sun News.
Former officer details issues
At least one recently departed Surfside Beach police officer believes the town’s investigation should result in Hofmann leaving the department.
Samantha Mabon, who resigned in January, shared with The Sun News her scathing resignation letter in which she states the she is resigning “under duress” before detailing issues with poor training, mistreatment and a hostile work environment.
She concludes her letter by underlining: “Change needs to happen at this department to encourage a bright future for officers and the community. That change needs to start at the top.”
Hofmann declined to comment on the letter because he said he expects some of those allegations to be part of the town’s investigation.
The Sun News has reviewed resignation letters for five other recently departed SBPD officers as part of a previous Freedom of Information Act request. Most were just a few sentences expressing gratitude for the opportunity, and none criticized Hofmann.
The Sun News filed two Freedom of Information Act requests last week to review more recent resignation letters and exit interview records. Surfside Beach has not responded to those requests prior to publication.
Former Surfside Beach Patrol Sgt. Jessica Kirby declined to comment on the coming investigation when reached by The Sun News. Attempts to reach other former officers were unsuccessful.
Speaking during last week’s council meeting, current Surfside Beach Sgt. Robbie Pinto said he had heard a group of disgruntled former employees had organized to push for the town to fire Hofmann.
He warned council members that those former officers’ opinions are skewed, and said many of the officers who stay only do so because of Hofmann’s leadership.
Mabon told The Sun News she hasn’t had contact with any current or former SBPD officers since she left, so she’s not part of any group Pinto described, but she wouldn’t be surprised if others had organized together in some way.
“(Hofmann is) a serious issue, and he needs to go,” she said. “And until he goes, the department will not be able to be the type of department that community deserves.”
Mabon was sworn in as a Surfside Beach police officer, her first job in law enforcement, during March 2023.
Police officer misconduct
The bigger issues started after Mabon’s field training officer intentionally changed her report after a traffic stop.
The Sun News previously detailed how the department initially fired former Cpl. Kyle Lundgren last June after he allegedly falsified an arrest report. But Lundgren was later allowed to resign and keep his law enforcement certification after a town grievance panel ruled that the department either failed to prove its allegations against Lundgren or that the actions didn’t warrant termination.
The report Lundgren allegedly changed was written by Mabon after a DUI stop with Mabon writing that she witnessed an opened, nearly full container of liquor in the car, and Lundgren changing it to state the bottle was empty.
Mabon was critical of Hofmann instructing then-Sgt. John Gambone to conduct the internal investigation of that allegation because Gambone appears to have been under investigation himself by S.C. Law Enforcement Division for alleged use of excessive force.
SLED arrested Gambone in October and charged the former officer with second degree assault and battery and misconduct in office. He left the department shortly before he was charged.
Hofmann requested SLED review Gambone’s alleged use of force around Jan. 2023, according to his deposition in a lawsuit related to the incident. That’s four months before Hofmann instructed Gambone to conduct the internal investigation into Lundgren.
Gambone ruled the allegation against Lundgren unfounded, stating in his report he believed both parties just had different perceptions, and he recommended Lundgren receive a written warning.
Hofmann emphasized in his recent interview with The Sun News that the department supported Mabon in that case, but he declined to discuss Gambone’s role due to the pending criminal and civil cases against him.
After that incident, Mabon said the rest of the police department essentially shunned her.
“Very few officers would look at me, much less speak to me,” she said. “When you’re calling on the radio ... (and) you get no response, ... you’ve got a big problem. Not only are they not being professional, ... but that’s a huge officer safety risk because how do I know, if I’m in trouble, you’re going to show up?”
Mabon told The Sun News she was initially hesitant to talk publicly about the issues she faced, but she now believes Hofmann is preventing her from getting a job with other local law enforcement agencies. She said she recently had a job offer rescinded without explanation.
Hofmann denied that the department has done anything to prevent Mabon from continuing her law enforcment career.
Krouse told The Sun News that no boundaries have been set for the town’s investigation, but he will suggest that interviews with former officers will be part of it.
Mabon hasn’t been contacted by any Surfside Beach administrators or council members, but said she’s willing to speak to anyone who will listen.
This story was originally published April 2, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
