NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Friends, family, community members, and city leaders all came together this morning to recognize and honor fallen North Myrtle Beach Police Officer, Sgt. Gordon Best.
A ceremony was held in front of the NMB Public Safety Building. Police Chief, Tommy Dennis, and the organizer of the event, Jagrut “JC” Shah, spoke about the important role police officers and first responders play in protecting our communities. The large group also prayed for protection for first responders and their families, and to family members who have lost a loved one in the line-of-duty.
The ceremony today is just one among many the Beyond the Call of Duty Organization has held throughout the Grand Strand in the past few days. The ceremonies are called, “The End of Watch Ride to Remember.” The name comes from the long-standing tradition of dispatchers issuing a final call to fallen officers over the radio, followed by a moment of silence. The tradition honors and recognizes the men and women lost while protecting our communities.
Sgt. Gordon Best was killed while responding to a call in the Barefoot Resort area of North Myrtle Beach on January 1, 2021. He was involved in a tragic wreck on rain-slick roads.
Recently, state and City leaders honored Sgt. Best by naming the Waccamaw River Swamp Bridge in his name. Sgt. Best and his father loved that area and fished there. It’s the place Sgt. Best learned about the outdoors from his father and is a fitting memorial to his sacrifice.
If you’d like to read more about the Waccamaw River Swamp Bridge ceremony, click the link below:
https://www.nmb.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=543
If you’d like to know more about the Beyond the Call of Duty and the End of Watch Ride to Remember, click the link below:
https://endofwatchride.com/