Letter | County should invest in first responders, not administrator

I live in the Carolina Forest area of Myrtle Beach, which is outside the city limits of Myrtle Beach. This fact increases the danger my family and I face.

The City of Myrtle Beach has about seven officers per 100,000 residents while Horry County Police covering our area have about one officer for each 100,000 residents. Our area has more crime, more request for service and much-delayed police response times compared to the City of Myrtle Beach.

Shortly after moving into our home I heard shots being fired; I called 911 and spoke to a dispatcher for the Horry County Police. The dispatcher could hear the shots over my phone. It took about an hour for the police to respond. I believe the officers of the Horry County Police Department do an excellent job. But they are too few and the area they cover is too large.

My wife and I both have several different heart ailments. We both have had two surgeries on our hearts. We are middle aged; I am 63.

My wife had severe problems with her heart on three different occasions. And I suffered a heart episode once. On all four occasions we were admitted to Grand Strand Hospital. We were so worried about the much delayed response times of the first responders that we did what was best for ourselves. We drove each other to the hospital. Doctors will tell you that being driven by some else to the ER is not the best treatment.

It seems if you live in the City of Myrtle Beach you are much safer than compared to the part of Myrtle Beach covered by Horry County.

The Horry County Council recently voted for a pay raise of 30 percent to a salary of $200,000 for its county administrator. I believe that this pay raise was too much and the money would be better spent on hiring more first responders.

My fellow taxpayers; what do you want? An overpaid administrator or more money going to increase the number of first responders.

I believe we are entitled to the same level of safety that can be found in the city limits. The budget process is ongoing. Please contact your councilman and urge them to spend for our safety.

The writer lives in Carolina Forest.

This story was originally published May 16, 2015 at 7:26 AM with the headline "Letter | County should invest in first responders, not administrator."