Lawrence honored as officer of the year

Garland County Under Sheriff Jason Lawrence
Garland County Under Sheriff Jason Lawrence

Garland County Under Sheriff Jason Lawrence was recognized last week as the Garland County Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and the Regional Officer of the Year for the Southwest Region of Arkansas by Attorney General Leslie Rutledge during the 2017 Arkansas Law Enforcement Summit at Camp Robinson.

Lawrence was nominated based on his outstanding work in the line of duty over the course of the 13 years he’s spent both volunteering and working for law enforcement.

“Under Sheriff Jason Lawrence epitomizes what it means to protect and serve on a daily basis. We are blessed to have him serving the Garland County Sheriff’s Department and the people of our community,” Sheriff Mike McCormick said in a news release.

In his nomination letter to Rutledge for Lawrence, McCormick noted he is widely known across the community, regularly attending community events, eating lunch with elementary school students, participating in teen and citizen police academy training and being involved with other community-driven activities throughout the year.

Lawrence began as a reserve deputy in 2004, working as a volunteer until he was hired in 2015. During the 10 years he spent as a volunteer, he served in a variety of different capacities working in the detention center, as a patrol officer and even on the tactical response team where he was shot twice.

“I love every day of it. I’ve always had a desire and want to serve in whatever capacity,” Lawrence said.

Although his career reflects an overall sense of enthusiasm, professionalism and integrity, one heroic incident in particular led to his nomination for outstanding law enforcement officer of the year, McCormick said.

On April 19, Lawrence risked his life to rescue an unresponsive civilian contractor who was working in the area above the ceiling of the former Garland County Detention Center, which is being converted into dispatch center, McCormick said.

Lawrence, without regard for his own safety, climbed a ladder and navigated through the complicated, “catacomb-like maze” to locate and rescue the man, McCormick said in his nomination letter.

“I get in there and at that point I can smell this gas. I could tell someone had been running a gas-operated piece of machinery and I knew it was probably carbon monoxide at that point,” Lawrence said. McCormick said that, with the help of another civilian worker, Lawrence was able to get him to safety.

“Time was of the essence for all of us. The construction worker helped me get him through the first hole and then I spun him around and hooked him up, basically. You couldn’t stand in there. I’m laying down trying crawling out all while pulling this man along with me,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence was able to maneuver through the complicated ceiling to an area where another deputy could reach them and help pull all three men to safety. Both deputies and construction workers were transported to the hospital for carbon monoxide exposure.

The emergency room physician stated that the carbon monoxide level in the victim’s blood was the highest he had ever seen in a surviving patient. It was his professional, medical opinion that the victim would very likely have died if not for the decisive action taken by Lawrence, McCormick said in his letter.

Lawrence was one of only five other law enforcement officers in the state to receive this award. Each county nominated one member of law enforcement and from that one officer was chosen at the outstanding officer for each region of the state.

“I truly believe through all of this God has called me to be in this position and to serve my community. I love Garland County so much. I know that may sound stupid, but I really do. I would give my life like that,” Lawrence said snapping his fingers.

“What I did that day is truly no different than what every single sheriff’s deputy does every day. They are the true heroes in my opinion,” he said.

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