CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – Horry County Police Chief Saundra Rhodes retired today. She first announced her plans to retire last Monday.
Rhodes stepping down comes as SLED continues their investigating into the Horry County Police Department.
Rhodes was named Chief of Police in 2012 after working as Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain.
She made history as the first female and the first African American to lead Horry County Police
News 13’s Taylor Herlong visited Rhodes at her house on Friday to talk with her about her time in Horry County.
Rhodes first agreed to do an interview, and after hours of waiting at the police department, Rhodes said she changed her mind and sent the following message:
“Thank you very much Taylor for the opportunity to speak with you, however I believe that the focus should be on the promising future of the Horry County Police Department.
I would really like to thank the citizens of Horry County for allowing me to serve them for the past 23 years and I would also like to thank Horry County for all of the opportunities that I was afforded during my career.
I have had a very rewarding career and look forward to spending some quality time with my family now.”
It’s still unclear exactly why Chief Rhodes is retiring.
In the last four months, two alleged rape victims have filed lawsuits against the Horry County Police Department.
Also, more than 100 cases have been reviewed and several cases originally investigated by Detective Allen Large have been reopened following Large’s terminating from the department on allegations of sexual harassment.
News 13 requested any compensation agreement made for Rhodes last Monday from the county as well as several other documents, and we still haven’t received them.
