Myrtle Beach, SC Police

Myrtle Beach Police Department

Myrtle Beach Police Motor Unit

1954-1960

Myrtle Beach Police Department

One of the first designs used

The Myrtle Beach Police Department Motor Unit was established in 1954 and the motorcycle of choice was the Harley Davidson FLH. Due to their low cost, motorcycles were used for day-to-day operations and were often ridden by officers with some kind of riding experience. Because there was no established training program for Police Motorcycles, some of the motor officers were involved in collisions and as a result, some of them chose not to ride. The program then became a part of the special events such as parades and funeral escorts and less of the day-to-day operations. More and more officers chose not to ride and the program finally disappeared in mid 1960.

Photo Courtesy of Myrtle Beach Police Officer Bill

Myrtle Beach Police Chief W.C. Newton Leading the Sun Fun Parade in June 1960

Photo Courtesy of Myrtle Beach Police Officer Bill

Myrtle Beach Motor Officer T.C. Taylor Jr. in 1958 on a Harley Davidson FLH

The first Motor Officer’s in 1954 were W.L. Chestnut, B. Butler and R.Riddle. Other Motor Officers during the 1950’s and early 1960’s were V.W. Strickland, T.C. Taylor and Police Chief W.C. Newton.

Myrtle Beach Police Motor Unit

1999-Present

Myrtle Beach Police Department

This is our current patch that was designed in 2006. The two stars honor the two Myrtle Beach Police Officers that were killed in the line of duty. Officer Henry Howard Scarborough in 1947 and Pfc Joseph McGarry in 2001.

The Myrtle Beach Motor Unit was re-established 39 years later in April 1999. Three Harley Davidson Electra Glide Standards were leased from Myrtle Beach Harley Davidson and four officers volunteered for the new unit. Shortly after, the city made plans for a fourth motorcycle and the start of a new era. Over the next 9 years the program has grown to five Harley Davidson Motorcycles assigned to the traffic unit. The five Harley’s will be replaced after January 2009 with the Honda STS 1300. The Myrtle Beach Police Department is adding three additional Hondas in 2009 and will now have 8 motor units.

Past Motor Officers:

Lt J. Levy, Sgt J. Shenay, Sgt T. Mitchell, Sgt J. Crosby, Sgt R. Beatty, Pfc J. McKniff, Pfc J. Brown, Pfc J. Whitmire and Pfc S. McCluskey

Current Motor Officers:

Sgt J. Bertang, Inv J.E. Allen, Pfc C. Rose, Pfc Orion Cozene, Pfc B. Truex and Pfc P. McLean

Myrtle Beach Police Department

Pfc C. Rose Sgt J. Bertang Pfc P. McLean Pfc B. Truex

Myrtle Beach, Police Department

Myrtle Beach Police Department