Roll of Honor
Incident
Lorena Night Watchman Fred E. Lawson was found around 3:00 a.m. in the office of the Westbrook and Evans gin by the foreman of the gin. A bullet wound was found in Lawson’s right side under the arm. His six-shooter, a Colt .44, had one chamber empty, was found under the chair close by. His lunch which he usually ate about 12 midnight was found spread out before him untouched. The pistol shot had ignited Lawson’s vest. The coroner concluded that Lawson met his death by accident or murder. The family reported his death as an accidental discharge when his pistol fell from its scabbard.
Lawson was survived by his wife and five small children, his mother, one sister and six brothers. He was buried in the Lorena City Cemetery. He had been employed as the town's night watchman for only two months, having replaced Night Watchman M. E. Witt, who was murdered on duty on December 11, 1917.
Survivors
Lawson was survived by his wife and five small children, his mother, one sister and six brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-C1F7297D- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Night Watchman Lawson served with the Lorena Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lorena community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Watchman Lawson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Night Watchman Frederick Everett "Fred" Lawson is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 653 of 2,421 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Lorena Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frederick Everett "Fred" Lawson's cause is highlighted.
How Frederick Everett "Fred" Lawson Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Frederick Everett "Fred" Lawson is highlighted in Feb.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Lorena Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
