By Amelia Anderson The Myrtle Beach Police Department, commonly known as MBPD, is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The department responds to emergency and non-emergency calls, investigates crimes, enforces traffic laws and provides patrol, investigative, traffic, K-9, beach, records and detention services.
MBPD operates from the Ted C. Collins Law Enforcement Center on North Oak Street. The department is organized into five major divisions: Administrative, Investigative, Patrol, Special Operations and Support Services. It also operates a 48-hour detention facility at police headquarters.
Residents should call 911 for emergencies or crimes in progress. For non-emergency police assistance, call 843-918-1382.
Myrtle Beach Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Myrtle Beach Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | MBPD |
| Headquarters | Ted C. Collins Law Enforcement Center |
| Headquarters address | 1101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Non-emergency number | 843-918-1382 |
| Office of Professional Standards | 843-918-1380 |
| Major divisions | Administrative, Investigative, Patrol, Special Operations and Support Services |
| Detention at headquarters | 48-hour detention facility |
| County | Horry County |
| J. Reuben Long Detention Center | 4150 J. Reuben Long Ave., Conway, SC 29526 |
| County detention phone | 843-915-5140 |
Myrtle Beach Police Department Address
Myrtle Beach Police Department headquarters is located at:
- Ted C. Collins Law Enforcement Center
- 1101 N. Oak Street
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577
The department’s non-emergency number is:
843-918-1382
The main police facility is open around the clock for police operations. The Records Department provides public report services during regular weekday business hours.
Call 911 when a crime is happening, someone is injured or in immediate danger, a weapon is involved, a serious crash has occurred or urgent police, fire or medical assistance is required.
Important Myrtle Beach Police Phone Numbers
| Police service | Phone number |
| Emergency assistance | 911 |
| Police non-emergency | 843-918-1382 |
| Office of Professional Standards | 843-918-1380 |
| City general information | 843-918-1000 |
| Horry County Detention Center | 843-915-5140 |
| Horry County Sheriff’s Office | 843-915-5040 |
Specialized contacts are mainly intended for complaints, records, detention and administrative services. New incidents requiring an officer should normally be reported through 911 or the non-emergency number.
Myrtle Beach Police Department Divisions
MBPD has five major divisions:
- Administrative Division
- Investigative Division
- Patrol Division
- Special Operations Division
- Support Services Division
These divisions cover frontline patrol, detective work, traffic and specialty enforcement, crime prevention, records, communications, detention, training and administrative support.
1. Patrol Division
The Patrol Division provides the department’s primary 24-hour police response and is the most visible part of MBPD.
Patrol officers handle duties including:
- Responding to 911 calls
- Handling non-emergency calls
- Conducting preliminary criminal investigations
- Responding to disturbances and suspicious activity
- Handling violent and property crimes
- Making arrests
- Conducting welfare checks
- Enforcing traffic and criminal laws
- Neighborhood and business patrol
- Assisting residents and visitors
The division includes day and night shifts as well as desk officers and Animal Control Officers.
2. Investigative Division
The Investigative Division handles criminal cases requiring additional follow-up after the initial police response.
Major investigative functions include:
- Violent Crime Unit
- Property Crimes Unit
- Crime Scene Unit
- Warrant Unit
- Street Crimes Unit
The Violent Crime Unit investigates offenses such as homicide, robbery, kidnapping, criminal sexual conduct and serious domestic-violence cases.
The Property Crimes Unit investigates burglary, larceny and other crimes involving theft or destruction of property.
The Crime Scene Unit provides forensic evidence collection, photography and fingerprint processing.
3. Street Crimes and Warrant Enforcement
The Street Crimes Unit is a proactive investigative team that focuses on narcotics, street-level crime and other public-safety problems.
The Warrant Unit works to locate people with outstanding warrants and coordinates with local, state and federal agencies when necessary.
4. Special Operations Division
The Special Operations Division contains four principal specialty units:
- Beach and Marine Patrol
- Traffic Unit
- Community Service Unit
- K-9 Unit
The Beach Patrol Unit provides coverage along approximately 10 miles of Myrtle Beach coastline. Officers patrol on foot and use four-wheel-drive vehicles, ATVs and watercraft when needed.
The K-9 Unit assists with tracking, building and evidence searches, narcotics and explosive detection, and missing-person searches.
5. Traffic Unit
The Traffic Unit investigates traffic collisions, enforces traffic laws and works to reduce dangerous driving and serious crashes.
Traffic responsibilities include:
- Speed enforcement
- DUI enforcement
- Collision investigation
- Serious crash reconstruction
- Traffic complaints
- Pedestrian and bicycle crash investigation
- Special-event traffic control
6. Support Services Division
Its principal sections include:
- Records
- Property and Evidence
- Telecommunications
- Detention
- Real Time Crime Unit
The Records Section creates, stores, retrieves and distributes police reports and related records.
The Property and Evidence Section manages evidence from crime scenes, found property and other items placed into police custody.
The Telecommunications Section answers emergency and non-emergency calls and dispatches public-safety resources.
Real Time Crime Unit
The Real Time Crime Unit uses technology to provide officers with timely information during investigations and active incidents.
Its tools may include surveillance cameras, fixed and mobile license-plate recognition systems, crime analysis and law-enforcement databases.
What County Is Myrtle Beach Police Department In?
Myrtle Beach is located in Horry County, South Carolina.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department provides municipal law-enforcement services within the City of Myrtle Beach.
Horry County has separate police, sheriff and detention agencies.
How to File a Myrtle Beach Police Report
For an emergency or crime in progress, call 911.
For a non-emergency police report, call:
843-918-1382
A person may request that an officer respond or may go to the Myrtle Beach Police Department to make a report.
MBPD also provides a Police-to-Citizen, or P2C, online services portal. The portal provides access to available incident, arrest and other police information, including qualifying online reporting services.
Incidents requiring immediate police response should always be reported by telephone.
Obtaining Myrtle Beach Police Records
Public copies of incident reports are available through MBPD’s online services and through the Records Department.
The Records Department is located at:
- 1101 N. Oak Street
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577
Records services are generally available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For broader public-record requests, the City uses the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act process. A written request should identify the desired records as specifically as possible.
Myrtle Beach Police Detention Facility
Unlike many municipal police departments, MBPD operates a detention section at its main headquarters.
The facility is designed for detention of adults and juveniles for up to 48 hours.
The Detention Section is responsible for:
- Processing detainees
- Short-term inmate housing
- Jail security
- Courtroom security
- Transporting detainees to other facilities
Myrtle Beach Police and J. Reuben Long Detention Center
Longer-term county detention is handled through the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, which is operated by Horry County.
The facility is located at:
- Reuben Long Detention Center
- 4150 J. Reuben Long Avenue
- Conway, South Carolina 29526
The detention-center telephone number is:
843-915-5140
People transferred from the city facility may later appear in Horry County detention records.
Complaints and Compliments
The Office of Professional Standards handles complaints and compliments involving Myrtle Beach Police employees.
The office can be reached at:
843-918-1380
Complaints can be filed in person, online or by mail. They may also be submitted to a shift supervisor at police headquarters.
Useful information includes:
- Date and time
- Location
- Employee name or description
- Badge or vehicle information when known
- Police case number
- Witness information
- Photographs, recordings or other evidence
- A clear description of what occurred
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Myrtle Beach Police non-emergency number?
A: The Myrtle Beach Police Department non-emergency number is 843-918-1382. Call 911 for emergencies or crimes currently in progress.
Q: Where is Myrtle Beach Police Department headquarters?
A: MBPD headquarters is located at the Ted C. Collins Law Enforcement Center, 1101 N. Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577.
Q: How many major divisions does Myrtle Beach Police have?
A: MBPD has five major divisions: Administrative, Investigative, Patrol, Special Operations and Support Services.
Q: Can I obtain a Myrtle Beach police report online?
A: Yes. Public copies of available incident reports can be accessed through MBPD’s online services. Records assistance is also available at police headquarters during weekday business hours.
Q: Does Myrtle Beach Police operate a jail?
A: MBPD operates a 48-hour detention facility at police headquarters for short-term custody. People requiring longer detention may be transferred to another facility, including the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Conway.