Hollywood police officer whose body was found at mall devoted his life to public service

A police officer whose body was discovered at closed mall in Plantation early Monday has been identified as Lt. John Graham.

Graham devoted his life to public service. He served four years in U.S. Marine Corps and then worked at the Hollywood Police Department for two decades, the department said in a statement.

According to police records with the Plantation Police Department, Graham took his own life outside his police-issued vehicle. He was off-duty at the time of his death, Hollywood police said.

Records say a security guard discovered Graham’s body. When police in Plantation arrived, they found a plastic bag with Graham’s driver’s license along with a handwritten, apologetic note directing how his assets should be disbursed. Also in the car was a little brown dog,

Officials in Hollywood as well as others within the law enforcement community say they have no reason to believe Graham’s death had anything to do with the shooting death hours earlier of Yandy Chirino. Chirino, police in Hollywood say, was shot by 18-year-old Jason Banegas after the two struggled in a park late Sunday.

Graham was a platoon

leader in the Police Academy. He received a bachelor of science degree from Union Institute in 2012. He received a master’s in public administration from Nova Southeastern University. He was also recently accepted into NSU Law School.

Graham spent 15 years on the SWAT team. He became a sergeant in 2013 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2018.

His most recent position was in the department’s training unit.

Graham was recognized many times for his leadership, receiving 24 letters from the community detailing his work. He also received 12 commendations from his supervisor as well as a unit citation. In December 2007, Graham was named Officer of the Month.

“As we struggle to understand, please keep John and his family in your thoughts and prayers,” the statement from the Hollywood Police Department said.