Myrtle Beach police chief urges officers to avoid being the ‘spark’ that ignites outrage
Don’t be the spark that causes outrage was the message that Myrtle Beach police Chief Warren Gall had for a room of about 500 officers in town to help patrol during Memorial Day weekend.
Gall said he understood that most people want their “10 minutes of fame,” but being hotheaded this weekend wasn’t the type of fame anyone wants.
“We all know what’s going on in our country right now,” he said, speaking of distrust of police officers in cities such as Baltimore, North Charleston and Ferguson. “It doesn’t take but one wrong move ... and if you end up being that spark that causes the problem [things could get bad].”
Gall addressed about 500 officers Thursday evening as they met at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel to be briefed on the city’s operational plan for Memorial Day weekend.
Grand Strand officials spent the past year working on a plan to curb crime on Memorial Day weekend, which turned deadly last year when three people died and seven were injured in eight shootings on Ocean Boulevard. Tens of thousands of people travel to the Grand Strand to take advantage of a three-day weekend at the beach or participate in events such as the Atlantic Beach Bikefest.
“You might get some negative comments,” Gall said. “You might even get some threats. You might even get assaulted – it’s happened before and it might happen again. ... I ask for your patience and I ask for your professionalism.”
Officers checked in at the convention center where they received their hotel assignments and had their radios programmed so that they all are operating on the same frequency.
While there are those who cause problems, Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes said it is a small percentage.
“Ninety-five percent of those here are here to have fun,” he said, adding that the troublemakers make up a small fraction of the crowds in town this weekend.
Gall told visiting officers that every Myrtle Beach police officer is equipped with a body camera. The city spent about $250,000 to provide cameras to all 220 of the city’s officers.
“Just remember these cameras are on – not just ours but the cameras of other people that will be visiting,” he said. “Let’s not capture something that you wouldn’t want your mom or your boss back home to hear.”
Gall also asked the visiting officers to look out for each other, which he said is something he tells Myrtle Beach officers regularly.
“There’s a part of the Bible that talks about being your brother’s keeper,” he said. “When you see your fellow officer and you see them starting to get out of control [interacting with a civilian] ... take them by the arm, walk them away and step in. There’s a good possibility that you’re going to save that officer’s career.”
Myrtle Beach Capt. Amy Prock and Lt. Joey Crosby were expected to walk the officers through the specifics of the operational plan, though police did not allow media in the room for that portion of the presentation, citing the Freedom of Information Act that allows the city to keep security plans private.
Police will aid private security, which will be in charge of manning the 23-mile traffic loop that will be in place nightly from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Officials said they created the loop to keep Ocean Boulevard traffic moving, adding that congestion leads to street parties, which they say leads to violence.
The traffic loop routes drivers from 29th Avenue North on Ocean Boulevard south and around to Kings Highway, north to Harrelson Boulevard – which turns into George Bishop Parkway – west to Waccamaw Boulevard, which runs next to U.S. Highway 501, onto S.C. 31 heading north to Grissom Parkway south, then onto U.S. 17 Bypass and down 29th Avenue North.
Beginning Friday morning, only one-way traffic will be allowed heading southbound on Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach beginning at 29th Avenue North with a dedicated emergency lane in the northbound lane. There also are barricades on both sides of Ocean Boulevard to keep pedestrians separate from traffic.
But aside from the operational plan, Gall said the most important thing for officers was to be safe and to keep those in town safe.
“For those out there who think we’re something we’re not – surprise them,” Gall said.
Contact MAYA T. PRABHU at 444-1722 or on Twitter @TSN_mprabhu.
What you need to know about the Memorial Day weekend traffic loop
Below is a list of answers to frequently asked questions regarding the traffic loop, based on information from Lt. Joey Crosby with the Myrtle Beach Police Department.
Question | When is the loop in effect?
Answer | 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday through Sunday May 22 to 24.
Q. | Where does the loop begin?
A. | The loop is considered to begin at 29th Avenue North and U.S. 17 Bypass. Drivers who wish to continue south on U.S. 17 Bypass will not be required to get into the loop at 29th Avenue North.
Q. | Where does the one-way southbound traffic on Ocean Boulevard begin and end?
A. | Ocean Boulevard from 29th Avenue North to Kings Highway will be southbound only from Friday through Sunday May 22 to 24 to make room for an emergency lane.
Q. | How can I access Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, south of 29th Avenue North, during non-loop hours?
A. | Drivers will be able to access Ocean Boulevard only from avenues that have a stoplight at Kings Highway, such as 21st Avenue North, 16th Avenue North, Third Avenue South and 17th Avenue South.
Q. | When is my first opportunity to exit the traffic loop?
A. | There will be message boards at U.S. 501 alerting drivers who wish to get out of the loop that they can continue on U.S. 501 North or head south on S.C. 31. Those wishing to return to Myrtle Beach or the festival will be alerted to take S.C. 31 North.
Q. | If I don’t want to take U.S. 501 where else can I get out of the traffic loop?
A. | There will be additional signage along S.C. 31 that tells those wishing to leave the loop they can continue North and telling festival traffic to stay to the right and exit onto Grissom Parkway.
Q. | How can I access Ocean Boulevard, south of 29th Avenue North, during loop hours?
A. | Drivers will only be able to access Ocean Boulevard from 29th Avenue North.
Q. | How will equipment be set up before and after loop hours?
A. | Equipment such as barrels and cones will be pre-staged at various locations along the loop and will be put up and ready to go into effect at 10 p.m. Barricades will be along Ocean Boulevard the entire weekend to separate festival traffic from a dedicated emergency lane and to separate pedestrians from vehicle traffic. Barricades also will be set up all weekend at a traffic chute at 29th Avenue North on Kings Highway when drivers wanting to attend the festival will be directed toward Ocean Boulevard.
Q. | When will traffic along the loop return to normal?
A. | Traffic may not return to normal immediately at 2 a.m. It will depend on how the traffic is moving. Officers could do a tiered take-down of equipment or take it all down at once.
Q. | Will Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach be open to traffic?
A. | Kings Highway traffic north of Harrelson Boulevard will be open to drivers heading both north and south, with drivers having the choice to get into the loop using a traffic chute at 29th Avenue North. Drivers heading south on Kings Highway will have to turn around before Harrelson Boulevard or will join loop traffic, where their first opportunity to get out of the loop will not come until Waccamaw Boulevard and U.S. Highway 501. Drivers heading north into Myrtle Beach on Kings Highway will be turned around near Myrtle Beach State Park.
Q. | Will I be able to access Broadway at the Beach?
A. | Those wishing to go to the Broadway at the Beach must use 21st Avenue North, Grissom Parkway or U.S. 17 Bypass. There will be no access to Broadway at the Beach from 29th Avenue North.
Q. | What is the best way for me to get to my hotel on Ocean Boulevard, south of 29th Avenue North, during loop hours?
A. | Mr. Joe White Avenue and 21st Avenue North will be open for use to get to hotels that have parking on the west side of Ocean Boulevard. If hotel parking is located on the oceanfront, hotel guests must get into the loop at 29th Avenue North and then alert police or security when parking at their hotel.
Q. | If I need to fly out of Myrtle Beach International Airport, or pick someone up, how should I get there?
A. | Travelers taking flights out of Myrtle Beach International Airport must enter Harrelson from northbound U.S. 17 Bypass. The exit to Harrelson from southbound U.S. 17 Bypass will be blocked to traffic. Drivers heading south on U.S. 17 Bypass wishing to go to the airport will have to make a U-turn at Shetland Lane or farther south to head north on U.S. 17 to Harrelson Boulevard.
Q. | How should I exit the airport?
A. | All drivers leaving the airport will have to turn right onto Harrelson, keeping them separate from loop traffic, they then will turn right onto Kings Highway and can get to Myrtle Beach from S.C. 544 then U.S. 17 Bypass.
Q. | Which way should I enter and leave The Market Common?
A. | People leaving The Market Common should use U.S. 17 Bypass. Those coming onto Kings Highway will be diverted south.
Q. | If I’m traveling north on Kings Highway, how will I know when I’m approaching the traffic loop, and how to avoid it if I want?
A. | Message boards will be placed at S.C. Highway 544 alerting motorists on Kings Highway that traffic will be diverted and sent back toward Surfside Beach. Those wishing to enter Myrtle Beach will have to do so from U.S. 17 Bypass.
Q. | What if I work at Coastal Grand mall, or want to see a movie at the mall after 10 p.m.?
A. | All going to or from Coastal Grand mall after 10 p.m. – to visit the movie theater or employees leaving work – must use Pine Island Road and U.S. 17 Bypass.
Q. | What if I need to drive myself to the hospital?
A. | Those who need to access the hospital should use U.S. 17 Bypass. Drivers are asked to access the emergency room directly from U.A. 17 Bypass, and not use 82nd Parkway.
Q. | Will taxis be allowed to drop off and pick up customers at locations within the loop?
A. | Police have said they will be reasonable and work with taxi drivers as best they can.
Q. | If I am driving on Grissom Parkway or Oak Street, will I be able to cross 29th Avenue North?
A. | No. Vehicles will only allowed to cross 29th Avenue North at Kings Highway and U.S. 17 Bypass.
Q. | Will Ocean Boulevard be open north of 29th Avenue North?
A. | Yes. However, drivers on Ocean Boulevard heading south will be turned off of Ocean Boulevard around 31st Avenue North.
Q. | If I’m driving south from Restaurant Row, can I stay on U.S. 17 Business?
A. | No. All traffic heading into Myrtle Beach from Restaurant Row will be diverted onto U.S. 17 Bypass.
This story was originally published May 21, 2015 at 7:56 PM with the headline "Myrtle Beach police chief urges officers to avoid being the ‘spark’ that ignites outrage."