The Horry County Police Department will undergo a full management review by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), announced Chief Kris Leonhardt at the Horry County Council Public Safety Committee meeting on June 10, 2026. The review, which is expected to take nine months to a year, is a voluntary review initiated by Chief Leonhardt himself.
What the Review Entails
The IACP review will examine the department’s structure, operations, personnel, supervision, training, internal controls, complaint and discipline systems, technology, evidence handling, and community relations. The review team will come on-site, interview employees, run staff focus groups, hold public input sessions, survey the community, and analyze departmental data and policy.
According to Chief Leonhardt, the review will provide valuable insights into departmental efficiency and community relations. He stated that the review is done through a full review of independent folks through their team that come down and give us that information that helps us identify things that we’re doing well, things that we can do better, and kind of lets us get a road map for the future as we grow.
Context and Background
The review comes amidst a series of public controversies surrounding the department, including the 2023 Scott Spivey road-rage death investigation, which has unraveled in public. Former HCPD Deputy Chief Brandon Strickland, who oversaw the bureau that ran the Spivey investigation, resigned in March 2025 after learning of an internal-affairs inquiry and is now the subject of a SLED probe.
Longtime Capt. Danny Furr filed a whistleblower lawsuit against Horry County, the police department, Chief Leonhardt, and others, alleging retaliation and forced retirement after he addressed the Public Safety Committee in April about what he described as corruption, retaliation, irregular promotions, and politically influenced policing.
What to Expect
The deliverable is a written report identifying strengths, deficiencies, and recommendations. Implementation rests with the Chief and Horry County Council. IACP does not enforce its recommendations; it delivers a report.
Original reporting: MyrtleBeachSC News — read the source article.
