Atlantic Beach town manager William Booker tells News 13 Police Chief Randy Rizzo remains suspended indefinitely and Sgt. Jamie turner left to pursue another job last week, leaving the police department with only two active officers.
With only two active officers for the time being, who often work at the same time, some residents say they want more police patrolling the streets immediately.
“I'm concerned if it goes forward the way it is now…the criminal elements seem not to be present in town. But if they detect that there's a scarcity of officers in town I’m afraid they will start to come back to this area,” said Atlantic Beach resident Paul Curry, who also ran for town council.
“I’ve had a Molotov cocktail thrown at my back window about 2:30 in the morning, fortunately it didn't break the glass. I’ve had threats made. I’ve been hit in the jaw,” said Curry.
Those are just some of the crimes Curry says he's been a victim of in the seven years he's lived in Atlantic Beach.
With Rizzo still suspended indefinitely without pay and Turner no longer with the town's police department, Curry fears crime will rise in Atlantic Beach.
Attempts to talk with either of the two remaining active officers were unsuccessful because both were out on patrol when we knocked at the department's office door.
Town manager William Booker says Horry County is also responding to 9-1-1 calls in Atlantic Beach.
“We have a standing agreement with Horry County that they would provide back-up and coverage for our town any time that any Atlantic Beach police officer is not on active-duty,” said Booker.
While Booker says the town is deciding what to do about the status of Rizzo and also how to fill the opening left by Turner, he isn't setting a timetable for those decisions.
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