Following the 2015 Memorial Day weekend, Brad Dean, president and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, issued the following statement:
“Memorial Day weekend, though still problematic, was less chaotic and somewhat safer than last year, and for that we can all be thankful. The planning, policing and prayers helped save lives and made a difficult situation more manageable. Residents and businesses tolerated many inconveniences with great patience.. Community ambassadors were helpful and prayer groups were active. Public safety personnel performed admirably amidst challenging circumstances. Unlike other cities, our community enjoyed exceptional policing. Clearly, there are details to be addressed and improvements to be made, so we must remain committed to making Memorial Day weekend safe and enjoyable for everyone. We (Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce) will continue to provide financial support for temporary law enforcement and urge local officials to immediately begin planning for 2016. But for now, we celebrate the comprehensive efforts that made this weekend somewhat safer and sincerely thank all who were involved.”