By admin 
As South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and State Attorney General Alan Wilson faced off in a heated debate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, violent crime in the Grand Strand took center stage.
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“Violent crime here in South Carolina has risen in several fast-growing areas, like right here in the Myrtle Beach area,” WMBF anchor Eric Weisfeld said.
The sentiment isn’t uncommon, both inside and outside of Myrtle Beach, but data doesn’t reflect a rise in violent crime.
“The statement that violent crime has risen is factually incorrect,” Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark Kruea said. “Violent crime is down significantly over the last 10 or 15 years from where it was a long time ago, or even 15 years ago, so our violent crime has decreased and continues to decrease, thanks to all the efforts that the city has put forth.”
The data on violent crime in Myrtle Beach
The city and the Myrtle Beach Police Department have touted a steep drop in Part 1 offenses, which includes violent crime but also certain property offenses.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation classifies aggravated assault, homicide, rape and robbery as violent crimes. In addition to the four violent crime categories, as well as burglary/breaking and entering, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.
According to MBPD, Part 1 offenses in Myrtle Beach dropped nearly 50% in the 10-year period from 2016 to 2024.
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A Sun News analysis of FBI data found that violent crime didn’t drop so precipitously in the last 10 years – but it hasn’t increased, either.
“Unfortunately, that’s just the continuation of an inaccurate perception, and it doesn’t reflect well on the community,” Kruea said of the moderator’s comment. “That’s just not accurate.”
SC governor candidates on violent crime
Weisfeld went on to ask the candidates what statewide strategies they would implement in their first year as governor to reduce violent crime without straining local police departments.
Evette said she would use state law enforcement resources to help at the local level and make sure prosecutors don’t “plea down deals,” while Wilson said he would support legislation to “close the gaps and the loopholes in the system” that let violent criminals out of prison and put conservative judges in power.
Myrtle Beach’s mayor had his own idea of how the next South Carolina governor could support local law enforcement efforts.
“What instantly comes to mind would be additional police training capacity,” Kruea said. “Currently, if you hire a new police officer, it will take months, if not a year or so, to get them into the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.”
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