Horry County terminates longtime employee for ‘conduct unbecoming of an officer’
The criminal investigation into Horry County Police Department’s handling of the deadly shooting on Camp Swamp Road in 2023 continues, but at least one officer was terminated.
Paul Damon Vescovi, a patrol division sergeant, was identified as having, “conduct unbecoming of an officer, as defined by HCPD General Orders, as well as a violation of general Horry County employee conduct guidelines,” according to a news release.
The deadly shooting of Scott Spivey by North Myrtle Beach business owner Weldon Boyd and his friend Kenneth “Bradley” Williams is part of an ongoing internal affairs investigation. SLED is also reviewing the incident for potential misconduct.
“HCPD will continue to cooperate with SLED as they continue their criminal investigation into potential misconduct related to the Camp Swamp Road shooting incident on Sept. 9, 2023. No criminal charges have been made as of this time,” the statement read.
Body cam footage from Vescovi at the scene of the shooting shows the officer speaking with Williams and Boyd, who was on the phone with his attorney, then Boyd hands the phone to Vescovi. Vescovi is later seen holding a note that appears to read, “Act like a victim” and “Camera.” HCPD Chief Kris Leonhardt declined to confirm whether that note is related to his termination, citing an active SLED investigation.
Vescovi had been with HCPD since 2002, according to records from the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy.
HCPD internal affairs investigations previously sustained at least two other “conduct unbecoming” violations against Vescovi in 2020 and 2021, according to records received through Freedom of Information Act request.
Details within the reports acquired are limited in both instances, but the 2020 incident notes that body camera footage showed Vescovi conducting himself “in an unprofessional manner” in a complainant’s living room. The 2021 violation simply states that he was accused of assault, and he was exonerated of that claim, but still found to have violated HCPD’s conduct unbecoming code.
It’s unclear what punishment, if any, Vescovi received as a result of either violation.
This story was originally published April 30, 2025 at 4:01 PM.
