Tom Vest Email and Phone Number

After my latest promotion, I report directly to the Chief of Police, while assuming full ownership of vital public and media communication programs executed by a skilled Public Information team representing department matters. In addition, I oversee the Freedom of Information Request team, ensuring appropriate transparency and compliance in all communications. Among my key contributions and achievements, I…Design/deliver communication strategies and assets to protect the department’s reputation and inform the community of important issues related to public safety, as well as community events. Assets include speeches, press releases, media information packets, social media content, etc.Closely track social media and news media content to develop effective responses to trends/reports impacting the police force. I have succeeded in substantially growing social media followings and engagement since moving into a public information role in 2018.Script/produce videos for social media (messages from the Chief, etc.) and for internal use (training videos, officer highlights, etc.).Oversee all communications for and serve as departmental spokesman for major regional events such as concerts, hurricanes, and more. I expertly handled media relations & interviews for a tragedy involving the death of an officer in the line of duty.Am relied upon as a strategic partner for city government and law enforcement officials advising on communications during civil unrest.Organize/coordinate press conferences and town halls with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.Direct the Critical Incident Negotiations team and strategize/oversee all crisis negotiations in partnership with on-scene command.Played a key role in updating/revising the agency’s Policy Manual to achieve state accreditation.Crafted a new basic interview tactics course to upskill patrol officers and supervisors in interview best practices.

I was selected to become a key advisor to executive leadership on all public and media relations matters, while completing other key functions, such as responding to media requests, coordinating interviews, preparing press releases, and more. As different parts of my role, I…Authored the department’s definitive Crisis Communications Manual.Was designated as Lead PIO for all interviews related to a major hurricane, which included interviews by national networks (NBC, ABC, CNN).

I earned my first promotion to lead a four-member team of Traffic Officers and the Traffic Division’s Motorcycle Enforcement Unit. Over this period of my time with the department, I…Developed/managed the budget, coordinated special events/escorts, and executed other leadership functions for the Motorcycle team.Built the Myrtle Beach Collision Reconstruction team, including creating all operating procedures.Was tapped to be the Assistant Law Enforcement Network Coordinator for a host of local and state agencies, which was a key building block for being promoted to the PIO role. I launched/managed a social media account to update the public on traffic-related matters, executed media interviews, and hosted traffic-related media events to promote traffic safety efforts. The communication efforts were instrumental in the network being honored as Network of the Year three years in row from 2018 to 2020.Completely redesigned the organizational Recruiting Plan as the Recruiting Coordinator & Background Investigator to utilize an evidence-based digital recruiting approach and save thousands of dollars.

For my first eight years, I was actively involved with different divisions playing an important part in emergency management, crowd control, traffic management, and criminal investigations, among other key functions. For select contributions, I…Completed the 40-hour FBI hostage negotiations course and served as a Crisis Negotiator.Devised an effective communications plan in 2016 in response to community complaints regarding traffic issues. I acted as department spokesman at community meetings responding to community questions and educating the public on Traffic Division operations and policies. I also conducted media interviews with local media outlets related to holiday traffic safety practices and concerns.Served as chief liaison for the department and worked hand-in-hand with the 15th Judicial Circuit Law Enforcement Network and other local agencies to host teen driving safety programs.Led investigations into high-profile traffic events, with several resulting fatalities and leading to felony charges.Was tasked to be the Field Training Officer facilitating training programs for new officers in areas such as officer safety, defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operations, interviewing, and testifying in court, among others.Joined an interagency operation (Local & Federal) to severely restrict the sale/use of laser pointers around the Myrtle Beach International Airport.Was nominated for the Officer of the Year award on different occasions.