The following was originally published in the Town of Holden Beach Newsletter. Visit http://www.hbtownhall.com to sign up.
Chief Dixon has requested the following information be communicated.
The Holden Beach Police Department’s phone lines have previously been forwarded to the Brunswick County 9-1-1 dispatch center while officers were on patrol and out of the office. This was in effort to allow the community better access to and communications with the Police Department. Unfortunately, the 9-1-1 center is now being inundated with administrative, non-emergency phone calls in reference to parking and closure questions. This hinders their ability to serve the community during emergency situations, creating a danger to the life and safety of everyone herein. In response to this situation, as directed by the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office and its 9-1-1 center, the Police Department administrative phone lines will no longer be accepted by the 9-1-1 center.
If you have an emergency situation, please dial 9-1-1 immediately for assistance. Dispatchers are standing-by at the ready to gather needed information and send law enforcement, the fire department and emergency medical personnel to your location. If you simply have questions about parking or closures, please refer to the Governor’s Executive “Stay at Home” Order, or the Town of Holden Beach’s State of Emergency. These orders, along with the guidelines from the CDC, will provide clear answers to your questions about social distancing, parking restrictions and any municipal closures. If you are not performing essential services, we kindly ask that you comply with these orders to avoid conflict. Failure to adhere to these orders place the health and welfare of yourself, your neighbors, our community and our public service members at great and unnecessary risk. For these reasons, violations of any of these orders are prosecutable in criminal court as a Class 2 misdemeanor, which carries a maximum punishment of up to 60 days confinement and up to $1,000 in fines.
As we all adjust to the pandemic known as COVID-19, the Holden Beach Police Department is continuing to serve our community with the utmost regard to each citizen’s needs and safety. While we are sympathetic to the inconvenience you are experiencing, we deeply appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we continue to work together during these difficult times.
Respectfully,
Jeremy Dixon, Chief of Police