Lake Waccamaw Mayor Ivan Wilson presents the commissioners’ resolution to Officer Jeff Marlowe.

Officer honored at Lake Waccamaw

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

Lake Waccamaw Police Officer Jeff Marlowe may not have been able to save a life, but his quick actions helped two people see for the first time in their lives.

Marlowe was honored by the town Board of Commissioners Tuesday for his response to a car crash on Oct. 22, 2007. Police Chief Scott Hyatt said Marlowe was on routine patrol when he heard a vehicle wreck, and was searching for the car’s location when he was dispatched to the scene, a short distance outside the city limits on US 74-76.

Homer Denver Graham III had crashed his car just outside Lake Waccamaw. The vehicle was in flames when Marlowe arrived.

“Two Marines had stopped at the accident and were standing outside the vehicle, “ Hyatt told the board. “You can hear them on the 911 tapes saying the vehicle was too hot to approach.”

Marlowe found the driver hanging out the door of the vehicle, and began trying to pull him to safety. Graham was tangled in his seatbelt, and while the Marines held his body, Marlowe used his knife to cut through the restraints.

“Jeff’s presence of mind and ability to lead and act in a time of danger is an example of the kind of officer we all strive to be,” Hyatt said.

“Officer Marlowe’s account of the incident to me went something like: “I helped out at a bad accident last night, but I don’t think the guy made it through’. It was like it was no big deal (his actions) because that’s just what you do in a time like that.”

Graham was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Recently, the victim’s father contacted the police department to let the officer know his efforts were not entirely in vain.

“Mr. Graham’s father made it a point to thank him for not letting his son’s body burn with his vehicle,” Hyatt said. “The senior Mr. Graham informed Jeff that his son was an organ donor, and he’d received a letter indicating two people were able to see their families for the first time in their lives because of his son.”

Hyatt called Marlowe’s actions “far above and beyond.

“Jeff does not work US 74/76,” Hyatt said. “He is not a firefighter. He is not an EMT or a volunteer rescue worker. But he is a hero – a hero in the eyes of Homer Denver Graham’s father, in the new eyes of people who have recently seen their families for the first time, and in my eyes.

“Knowing he had a wife and two little girls at home,” Hyatt said, “Officer Marlowe risked his own life to save the life of a perfect stranger.”

Marlowe’s wife Erin and their daughters Kailey and Payton stood at his side Tuesday as he received a commemorative coin from Hyatt and a framed commendation from the town. The two little girls wore matching “My daddy is a hero” shirts.

All of Marlowe’s fellow officers also attended Tuesday’s presentation.