Captain Sean Downey

Captain Sean Downey was born in 1972 in Yonkers, New York, and moved with his family to Cherry Grove Beach in 1978. Growing up in the City of North Myrtle Beach, he attended local public schools and graduated from North Myrtle Beach High School in 1990.

Following graduation, Captain Downey served in the United States Marine Corps from 1991 to 1995, completing deployments in the Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf, and Japan. He was assigned to the Marine Detachment aboard the USS America and later to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines at Camp Pendleton.

In 1997, he began his career with the North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety as a Jailer/Dispatcher and was promoted to Public Safety Officer the following year. From 2002 to 2012, he served as a Patrol Sergeant before advancing to the rank of Lieutenant in 2012. Over the next 13 years, he provided leadership across a wide range of divisions, including Patrol, Recruitment and Hiring, Jail/Dispatch, Investigations, Professional Standards, Beach Patrol, Community Services, and Special Events.

In 2025, Captain Downey was promoted to Captain and now serves as Commander of Operations. He is a proud lifelong member of the North Myrtle Beach community and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College.

Captain Downey and his wife are the proud parents of three beautiful daughters, and together they make their home in the North Myrtle Beach area.

Assignments and Recognitions

• Founding Member, Honor Guard (2001–2015)
• Special Response Team (1999–2008)
• Field Training Officer (1999–2012)
• Bicycle Unit (2000–2012)
• Investigations (2002)
• CART Team (2006)
• VFW Officer of the Year (2001)
• Employee of the Month (September 2001)
• Supervisor of the Quarter (Fall 2011)