John Doyle Lawrence
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

John Doyle Lawrence

Felonious
End of Watch May 20, 1957
Age 54
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 92 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff John Lawrence was shot and killed when he and his partner stopped a vehicle driven by a man who had just shot and wounded two state troopers.

They located the car near North Miami and followed it on a rural road before stopping it approximately one mile west of the city. As the officers approached the car the suspect exited and opened fire, striking Deputy Lawrence in the neck. Deputy Lawrence's partner was able to return fire and wound the suspect.

The suspect was later found in his home, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Deputy Lawrence had served with the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-3AE1E4F8
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Lawrence gave the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Miami community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Lawrence.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Miami, Ottawa County, OK
Platform Identity ocso.ottawa.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 20, 1957
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Rifle

Deputy Sheriff John Doyle 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 97,772 officers honored here.

In OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 69.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Ottawa County Sheriff's Office
3
of 3 officers
100% Felonious
OK — Statewide
403
of 582 officers
69.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Doyle Lawrence's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How John Doyle Lawrence Compares

Age at Death
54
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Doyle Lawrence is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Doyle Lawrence was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Ottawa County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.