Phoenix Security Solutions

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It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of Captain Phil Lawrence. It was discovered earlier this evening that Phil had passed away at his home in Conway.

Phil had been a valued member of our team since 2015 and worked with me previously, since 1997, with Excalibur. He was certainly “one of a kind” and will be missed by all who knew him.

We do not have any information to provide regarding any services for Phil but will update everyone as soon as possible.

From now until the end of the month, all Phoenix Officers will wear the customary black mourning band across the center of your uniform badge as a sign of respect and sorrow for the loss of our Brother.

Please keep Phil and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this sorrowful time.

Near tragedy averted by some SHARP Phoenix Officers!

On Wednesday morning at about 5:25am, Sgt. Josh Anderson was patrolling a neighboring property and saw a large billow of black smoke rising from the Captain’s Quarters. He radioed Officer Jeanne Sherbert, who was on duty at the Captain’s Quarters to report the smoke. Officer Sherbert immediately notified the front desk to call 911 while she investigated the source of the smoke. She arrived on the sixth floor to find that the smoke and fire were beyond her ability to safely handle and pulled a secondary fire alarm to ensure it could be heard by all.

Major Andrew Lowe, who was in Surfside at the time, directed other area officers to go to the Captain’s Quarters to assist in evacuation. Sgt. Anderson and Captain Shelia Samuels responded, and Sgt. Anderson went into the hotel to assist Officer Sherbert, while Captain Samuels directed evacuees across the street.

Sgt. Ryan Cromwell had arrived at the property to give Officer Sherbert a ride home, when the fire was discovered. He also went in and assisted in getting people out of the hotel and across the street.

When the fire department arrived, Captain Samuels and Sgt. Cromwell advised them where the fire was and how to best get to that area.

In total, well over 1000 guests were evacuated as the fire was being suppressed by the Myrtle Beach Fire Department, with no known injuries. Sgt. Anderson, however, was treated and released for smoke inhalation.

If not for Sgt. Anderson spotting the smoke and notifying Officer Sherbert, who immediately got emergency services on the way AND the cooperative efforts of all other officers and hotel staff, this could have turned out MUCH worse. Had the fire spread without very early notice, guests could have become trapped on the upper floors and made their evacuation far more difficult and dangerous.

I was in the Mobile Command Center later in the day and was told by several fire officials that our officers did a fantastic job. They also complimented Officer Darrell Hill for his handling of the crowd of displaced guests, hours after the fire in a professional and compassionate manner.

I am very proud of you all and cannot even say how thankful I am that you were all “on the job”, being highly observant and responsive to this critical situation. This was most certainly teamwork at its absolute best!