Marines

Photo Information

Officer John Covey, left, of the Marine Corps Base Quantico Provost Marshal Office, stands with Provost Marshal Maj. Justin Powell during an award ceremony on March 18 that recognized 21 police officers from Prince William County for valor.

Photo by Eve A. Baker

Marine Corps civilian police officer recognized for valor by Prince William County Chamber of Commerce

30 Mar 2015 | Eve A. Baker Marine Corps Base Quantico

Officer John Covey, of the Marine Corps Base Quantico Provost Marshal Office, was recognized for valor in a ceremony at the Hylton Performing Arts Center on March 18. Covey received a bronze medal for valor from the Prince William County Chamber of Commerce. Twenty other officers from throughout Prince William County were also recognized for various lifesaving acts and exceptional investigative skills that protected the community from dangerous criminals.

A former Marine sergeant and native of Hannacroix, New York, Covey has been a police officer since 2008, serving his entire career with the MCBQ PMO. Covey said he had two career goals in life: become a Marine like his father and a police officer like his grandfather, and he has achieved both.

Covey’s award was bestowed for a life-saving act he carried out at peril to his own life in May of last year. Provost Marshal Maj. Justin Powell presented the award to Covey onstage during the ceremony while a narrator read a summary of Covey’s actions.

On May 27 Covey and Officer Timothy Lutter were sent to a residence in the family housing area on base to perform a welfare check on a Marine. The Marine’s father was concerned by some of his son’s Facebook posts, which had suggested suicidal thoughts. When Covey arrived at the house and knocked on the door, he received no answer. Obtaining permission from his commanding officer to enter the house and a key from the housing office, he entered to find the house in disarray.

Covey and Lutter searched the house, and after finding no one, Covey decided to enter the garage. “It felt like 140 degrees in there,” Covey recalled. The vehicle was running, and the air was filled with carbon monoxide. Covey found the Marine unconscious in the driver’s seat, wearing a flak jacket. He opened the garage door to vent the fumes, lifted the Marine out of the car, and carried him out to the driveway.

Not detecting a pulse, but observing weak breathing, Covey opened the flak jacket and performed the sternum rub technique to elicit a response from the Marine before attempting CPR. After the third application of the technique, the Marine took a deep breath and opened his eyes. Covey placed him in the recovery position and monitored his vital signs until an ambulance arrived. The Marine was transported to the hospital and made a full recovery.

Covey said, “We all joined the police department to help people,” and he is glad he was able to give the Marine a second chance at life.

Powell felt that it was a great privilege to be able to present Covey with the award. “I am sure he will tell you that he was just doing his job,” Powell said. “Officer Covey truly embodies ‘others before self,’ especially when he willingly put himself in harm’s way to try to save a young man he never knew … We are fortunate to have him, and the other fine officers who assisted that day, on the team here at PMO.”

— Writer: ebaker@quanticosentryonline.com
















Marine Corps Base Quantico