Hiring & Recruiting

The HCPD Hiring & Recruiting Unit, in coordination with Horry County Human Resources, is where your journey to join Team Horry begins!

To search for current openings with Horry Co unty Police Department, please check the Horry County Government Employment Opportunities webpage. (Please note, applications are only accepted when there is an open position. Hiring happens on an as-needed basis.)

Applicants are strongly encouraged to share a little bit of their ‘Horry story’—what brings you to HCPD and why do you feel compelled to be a police officer?

To become a patrol officer, you must meet the following minimum qualifications prior to hire:

1. Be at least 21 years old
2. Possess a high school diploma or GED
3. Possess a valid South Carolina driver’s license with no prior convictions, guilty pleas, or pleas of nolo contendere in the previous five years for DUI
4. Be in reasonably good health
5. Pass an extensive background investigation
6. Pass a psychological examination  
7. Pass a polygraph examination

Upon selection for hire, a recruit patrol officer must be able and prepared to do the following:

1. Complete the certification courses and requirements set by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA)
2. Be able to maintain a required level of proficiency in the use of firearms

Class I Patrol Officer positions are non-exempt with an entry-level salary starting at $53,021.90.

Applicants with a valid South Carolina Class I Certified Police Officer certification do not have to attend basic training at the SCCJA.

Applicants who are certified police officers from another state may transfer to Horry County Police Department by completing a training review with H CPD, taking a cumulative test, and demonstrating driving and firearms proficiency with the SCCJA.

Horry County also offers a competitive benefits package for police officers that includes the following:

• Take-home patrol vehicle
• Comprehensive health, dental, and life insurance
• Paid vacation and sick leave accrued monthly  
• No-cost employee wellness center for covered employees, spouses, and retirees
• Enrollment in the South Carolina Police Officer Retirement System
• Foreign language competency pay
• Employee recruitment incentives   
• Training, specialization, and advancement opportunities

Opportunities for optional overtime and extra-duty assignments are abundant.

To get an idea of what we’re all about, we encourage applicants to check out our HCPD Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.

If you have additional questions about becoming an Horry County Police Department officer, reach out to our Hiring & Recruiting team at

or call one of us at the numbers below. Horry County Government Employment Opportunities.

• Lt. Justin Miller - (843) 915-7994
• Sgt.  Becky Phillips - (843) 915-8044