Police Chief

Dana Crowell was appointed as North Myrtle Beach Police Chief in January of 2023 making her the departments 8^th Police Chief since the city’s incorporation in 1969.  Chief Crowell oversees a department of 127 employees with 98 of those being sworn positions.  Chief Crowell places tremendous value on public safety and community engagement and recognizes this effort is a shared responsibility.  She is committed to serving the citizens  and visitors of North Myrtle Beach to ensure this City is a safe and enjoyable place to live, work, and play. 

Chief Crowell has over 20 years of experience as a law enforcement professional.  Beginning her career with the North Myrtle Beach Police Department in  2002 in Uniform Patrol, she  worked as a Field Training Officer and K9 Handler before transferring to a plain clothes assignment in the Criminal Investigations Narcotics Unit in 2011. She has held a variety of positions and ranks throughout the organization including Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain.  Crowell has supervised almost every division within the agency, including Uniform Patrol, Community Services, Beach Patrol, Special Events, Support Services, Communications/Jail, and Training. Crowell was appointed to the Position of Professional Standards Captain in 2020 with the responsibility for daily operations as well as Internal Investigations and departmental hiring. 

Chief Crowell is a graduate of the University of Louisville's Southern Police Institute's 134th Administrative Officers Course and holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia University, in Columbia South Carolina as well as an Associate’s Degree of Science in Criminal Justice from Horry-Georgetown Technical College. 

Chief Crowell is an active member of various professional organizations including the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the South Carolina Police Chief Association, the Southern Police Institute's Alumni Association, the North Myrtle Beach Rotary Club, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association.