Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Denny Lawrence succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained 30 years earlier while investigating a minor traffic accident on US 93 south of Jackpot, Nevada.
Unbeknownst to Deputy Lawrence, the suspect had just been released from the California Department of Corrections. Upon his release, he went to his former cellmate's home where he murdered two people and stole their car. Several campers in the area were helping the man stay warm as they waited for an officer to respond to the accident.
As Deputy Lawrence began to run the man's driver license, the man approached him and suddenly shot him once in the forehead with a .22 caliber handgun. He then fired again, but missed, before taking Deputy Lawrence's service revolver. Two armed citizens then shot and killed the subject as he opened fire on bystanders in an attempt to steal a vehicle to escape.
Deputy Lawrence remained in a coma for several days. He suffered severe brain damage and remained completely disabled in an assisted living home until passing away from medical complications of the wound.
Deputy Lawrence was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served in law enforcement for a total of 26 years before he was shot.
Survivors
He is survived by his three sons and a daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NV-AC1D676C- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 15, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Denny is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Lawrence gave the Elko County Sheriff's Office 26 years.
Thank you for your service to the Elko community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Denny Van Lawrence served in the U.S. Navy (1952â1956) before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Denny Van Lawrence is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In NV, 82 of 146 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56.2% of this state's fallen. That is 56.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Elko County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Denny Van Lawrence's cause is highlighted.
How Denny Van Lawrence Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Denny Van Lawrence is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Denny Van Lawrence was killed by handgun; .22 caliber.
Incident Location
Military Service
Denny Van Lawrence served in the U.S. Navy (1952–1956) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Denny Van Lawrence’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Elko County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
