Appointed – July 10, 1899
End of Watch – December 25, 1925
Sergeant Michael Lawrence was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect at Fourteenth Avenue North and Sixth Street North.
For several years, he had worked as a logger in various Minneapolis lumber mills, but gave up that work to join the Minneapolis Police Department in 1899. He served for 26 years, first as a patrol officer, then as a desk sergeant, and later as Commander of the North Side Gun Squad.
Sergeant Lawrence lived with his family at 1530 Hillside Avenue North. He was survived by his wife, one son, and three daughters.
Led by Frank W. Brunskill, Minneapolis Chief of Police, 125 Minneapolis and St. Paul Police Officers formed a guard of honor at the funeral service for their fallen colleague.
Sergeant Lawrence was buried at St Mary’s Cemetery on January 1, the very day on which he was scheduled to retire from service.
Photograph courtesy of Hennepin County Library