Perception is NOT reality: Horry sees change in crime rate, but it’s not what you think
Whether it’s on social media or discussions between neighbors, a constant refrain is how Horry County’s crime rate is getting worse.
“Welcome to Murder Beach.” “This area is not like it was years ago.” “I don’t feel safe.”
In reality, the crime rate for Horry County is improving compared to five years ago. Murders, burglary, arson and robbery cases declined in 2019 compared to 2018.
“Everything we’ve done up to now has been to reduce that number,” Chief Joe Hill said.
The number of robbery cases dropped from 129 in 2018 to 100 in 2019. Arson dropped from 53 cases to 22 in the last year.
A couple of areas saw jumps from 2018, such as thefts which went from 4,516 to 4,861. That 2019 number, however, is down from the roughly 5,400 cases the county saw each year between 2014-2017. A similar trend happened with the number of rape cases going from 154 to 170 in 2019. In 2015 the total was 211 and in 2016 it was 226.
Aggravated assaults increased from 2018 to 2019 going from 557 cases to 609.
The most serious crime, murder, had 10 cases in 2019. The total had been running in the 20s the previous three years. The highest-profile killing in 2019 was on July 26 when Steve Johnson Sr. and Steve “Sparky” Johnson Jr. were gunned down in an apparent robbery at Waccamaw Bingo.
Christi Brunson, the daughter and sister of the victims, said the holidays were tough for their family.
“It wasn’t the same,” she said. “It wasn’t as merry as it usually is.”
The family celebrated the best they could because it’s what Steve and Sparky would have wanted, Brunson said. They’re learning how to live with their “new normal,” she said. Horry County police investigators and a victim’s advocate also reached out to make sure the family was OK during the season.
“They have been better than I have ever anticipated,” Brunson said.
Crime rate drop
Improving the crime rate is a daily process, Hill said. The department has a squad now that works to arrest habitual offenders, such as the G-Shine gang members. They also use the “see something, say something program,” which stresses if people have any concerns, they should report them to the police.
“It’s a multi-faceted approach to keep our community safe,” Hill said.
In total, Horry County police had 116,883 calls for service in 2019. Traffic calls were the most with more than 7,000 incidents, and nuisance complaints were the second most at nearly 5,000.
Despite the decrease, posters on social media continue the perception that crime is rampant. Hill said it can be frustrating trying to get people to understand, and the department has taken steps to combat the misinformation. Officials use Horry County police’s social media pages to communicate with the public.
The department will also provide data to community or groups such as homeowner associations, Hill said. He added officers will attend meetings where they hear from residents about all the crime on the block. When they look at the numbers, there might only be a few calls in that area.
“You’re good. Continue to be good,” Hill said is what officers tell those communities. “Continue to be vigilant and trust your local law enforcement.”
Horry County police is working to continue the trend in 2020, and Hill said they are meeting with their counterparts in North Carolina on potential partnerships to reduce crime in the region.
The department also has a new, online reporting tool, which allows residents to report crimes that might not require an immediate police response.
“We all want the same thing. We all want to just have a peaceful community,” Hill said.
