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Combining the Horry County Police Department with the sheriff鈥檚 office would cost more than $650,000 up front and would not save taxpayers any money in the long run, according to estimates compiled by the county.

If county officials wanted to merge the agencies, the move would require a council vote to hold a referendum and a favorable vote by the public.

Despite the possibility of a merger being raised by county councilman Paul Prince 鈥� and supported by Sheriff Phillip Thompson 鈥� most council members want to leave the agency as it is and hire a new police chief.

Horry is the only one of the state鈥檚 46 counties with a separate police department and sheriff鈥檚 office. The two-agency system dates back to the 1950s when the late Sen. James P. Stevens created it as retaliation against his political rival Sheriff John Henry.

The public had an opportunity to vote on merging the two law enforcement agencies in 1998, but the initiative to put the county police under control of the sheriff failed to pass.

Although discussion about combining the agencies has continued for years, Prince brought the subject to the forefront after the retirement of Horry County Police Chief Saundra Rhodes in May.

Rhodes鈥� departure came amid an investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) into HCPD鈥檚 handling of sexual assault cases. Since December, four civil lawsuits have been filed against the agency, including three that accused a former detective of sexually assaulting rape and domestic violence victims.

鈥淯nfortunately, Saundra got caught up in some stuff,鈥� said council member Gary Loftus. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know exactly the ends and outs. A lot of it was under her watch anyway. But she had to deal with it. She just got caught up in that and decided 鈥楨nough鈥檚, enough. I鈥檓 out of here.鈥欌��

Rhodes has not returned requests for comment. 聽

The current challenges at the police department aside, most councilmen prefer the county hiring a sheriff to the voters electing one.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think that the head police officer should be elected by a popularity contest,鈥� councilman Johnny Vaught said. 鈥淭he police officer in charge of Horry County police should be put in that position because of merit, because of professionalism, because of what their bio says or what their resume says. 鈥� That鈥檚 the conclusion I鈥檝e come to.鈥�

Loftus agreed.

鈥淚 have no problem putting it to a referendum,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 just don鈥檛 understand. Yes, we鈥檝e had some issues perhaps with the police. And if you could tell me that Phil Thompson is going to be the sheriff for the next 100 years, I鈥檇 have no problem with it. But what happens to life after Phil Thompson? And I could give you a list of the sheriffs in South Carolina that have been indicted, etc., etc. And there鈥檚 more than one or two. I can promise you that. ... If we get a bad sheriff, we鈥檙e stuck with him. If we get a bad police chief, we get rid of him.鈥�

Loftus also pointed out that the costs associated with a merger 鈥渁re not insignificant.鈥�

The county projects repainting and remarking 216 police vehicles would cost $388,800, while new badges and uniforms would have a price tag of $263,371.20. Changing the signs and logos on county buildings would cost $5,000.

Those estimated expenses do not include the cost of reprogramming the computer-aided dispatching system. That may require major software changes and county officials don鈥檛 know how much that work would cost.

County spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier said officials don鈥檛 expect to save any money through a merger.

鈥淭he missions of the two departments are complimentary rather than overlapping,鈥� she said, adding that the police department handles patrol and investigations while the sheriff鈥檚 office supervises the jail and oversees courtroom security.

When asked about the county鈥檚 figures, Prince acknowledged that the merger may not reduce expenses.

As the county grows, he said, there will be a need for more law enforcement and that will have a higher price tag, though he thinks a single agency can provide better service than two.

鈥淥nce that鈥檚 done, I would think it should work as or more efficiently than it is now,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know in the long run if you鈥檙e going to save money one way or the other.鈥�

Prince said he鈥檚 the only councilman he knows of who supports combining the departments, but his position remains unchanged. If a sheriff doesn鈥檛 address problems at an agency, he said, the voters can replace him. Removing a police chief requires council members and the administrator to work together.

鈥淚f we sit there and we don鈥檛 agree to get things done, then we鈥檙e not getting anywhere,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got too many cooks in the kitchen. And each one鈥檚 cooking different things.鈥�

Council members are scheduled to discuss the merger costs at a June 27 public safety committee meeting.