CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – A spokesperson for Horry County confirmed on Friday the resignation of Horry County Fire Rescue’s deputy chief, but she wouldn’t explain the circumstances.
Mike Norket turned in a “voluntary resignation” Thursday, spokesperson Kelly Moore said. The resignation was effective the same day.
Norket came out of retirement to join Horry County Fire Rescue in 2016. He served for 29 years at the Myrtle Beach Fire Department.
Firefighters and medics have publicly criticized the department’s leadership recently after it made changes to a controversial mandatory overtime policy. The policy sometimes forces firefighters and medics to work 48 hour shifts. Some of them call the policy a safety issue.
Horry County council chairman Mark Lazarus was caught up in the overtime controversy when he suggested last month that the policy didn’t exist. He had to issue a clarification after backlash on social media from firefighters and medics.
After firefighters and medics showed up at a council meeting on Tuesday, Lazazrus demanded a report on the state of Horry County Fire Rescue.
No indication has been given that the overtime controversy played a role in Norket’s resignation. Norket didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Using the Freedom of Information Act, News13 requested Norket’s resignation letter and his most recent performance review, among other things. The county has approximately two weeks to respond.
