Holly MatkinPlantation, FL – Hollywood Police Department (HPD) Lieutenant John Graham was found dead of an apparent suicide on Oct. 18, according to police.
Plantation police responded to the Broward Mall located at 8000 West Broward Boulevard at approximately 3 a.m. after someone at the mall called 911, WSVN reported.
“He’s advising of a black Charger in the Parking Lot Number 3 that has been there for 20 or 30 minutes,” the 911 dispatcher said while relaying information to police from the caller. “It appears that there’s a male laying there on the ground outside of the vehicle.”
Officers arrived to find Lt. Graham dead at the scene, WSVN reported.
“The Hollywood Police Department is deeply saddened to share the unexpected and devastating passing of Lieutenant John Graham,” the department said in a press release on Oct. 19. “As we struggle to understand, please keep John and his family in your thoughts and prayers.”
Lt. Graham served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1996 until 2000 and was a member of the HPD for the past 20 years, according to his department.
He was a platoon leader during his time in the police academy and went on to spend 15 years on the agency’s SWAT team as a operator, team leader, assistant commander, sniper, explosive breacher, and repel master.
Lt. Graham earned his bachelor’s degree from Union institute in 2012, attended the Southern Police Institute in 2014, and went on to obtain a master’s degree in public administration from Nova Southeastern University, according to the HPD.
He was recently accepted into Nova Law School.
The highly-decorated lieutenant received 12 supervisor commendations, a unit citation, and 24 letters of appreciation from community members during his two decades of service.
He was chosen as Officer of the Month in December of 2007.
Department Florida is deeply saddened to share the unexpected and devastating passing of Lieutenant John Graham.
Lt. Graham devoted his life to public service, as a member of the United States Marine Corp from 1996-2000 and as a Police Officer here at the Hollywood Police 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/wP0r1mVgT8— LEON *** (@jose22780) October 19, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Hollywood Police Department Lieutenant John Graham, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
Sandy Malone
