City promotes three

July 31, 2012 North Myrtle Beach, SC - Three North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Officers have received promotions. Tommy Dennis and Michael Swarthout were promoted to the rank of police sergeant, and Sean Downey was promoted to lieutenant.

Michael Swarthout, who became a volunteer firefighter in his native Virginia in 1994, joined the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department as a firefighter in 1999. In 2001, he was promoted to fire lieutenant, and in 2005 he changed over to become a public safety officer. In 2010, he became a field training officer, assisting in the training of new officers.

L-R Lt. Downey and Sgt Swarthout. Not shown - DennisTommy DennisTommy Dennis joined the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department in 1997. In 2001, after working on road patrol, he was transferred to the narcotics division. In 2003, he became a task force officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration where he had the opportunity to participate in large federal cases. He worked there until 2008, when he participated in a mentoring program in which he helped train officers working in the narcotics division.

Sean Downey joined the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department after serving in the United States Marine Corps. He started in 1997 as a dispatcher/jailer, and soon after earned an assignment as a public safety officer. He was promoted to sergeant in 2002. He is a founding member of the department’s Honor Guard and Special Response Team, and has served on other department teams and units. He has received several awards.

Shown left to right in the accompanying photo are Lieutenant Sean Downey and Sergeant Michael Swarthout. Due to his role in drug enforcement, the city cannot include a photo of Tommy Dennis.