CIU Security officer honored for “brave, valiant and heroic actions”

Columbia International University Security officer Xavier Holmes says he didn’t know why Security Chief Stephen Pearrow told him he needed to be at a CIU Chapel service at a time he was not scheduled to be on duty. He assumed there was going to be a security issue. “Was I walking into something here?” he thought.

But instead, he was there for a couple of different reasons. First, the entire Security staff was recognized on the stage of Shortess Chapel for their work during a five-day electricity outage as the powerful remnants of Hurricane Helene blew through days before.  

But then, CIU Executive Vice President Dr. Rick Christman called out Holmes for special recognition and honored him a plaque that reads:

“In Recognition of the brave, valiant and heroic actions of CIU Security Officer

Xavier Holmes

Who prevented potentially catastrophic fire damage to the university on July 29, 2024”

Holmes was on duty that Sunday when he was notified of a fire in the campus store that was quickly filling with smoke.   

Holmes grabbed the nearest fire extinguishers and entered the store multiple times until the flames were extinguished and the fire department arrived, explaining that he held his breath during each entry.  

Was he scared in those moments?

“I had too much adrenaline to be scared — it was more so duty,” Holmes said. “I just felt like it was God’s providential hand. I believe in that. Whatever I was walking into, God had already known what it was going to be. That was my confidence.”  

As for the surprise recognition and the plaque, he said, “I was definitely shocked, but grateful. I feel honored.”  

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