George E. Lawson
Agency patch
Detective

George E. Lawson

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, MO
Felonious
End of Watch March 7, 1924
Age 36
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 46 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective George Lawson was shot and killed while arresting two men who had just robbed a laundry on Woodland Avenue in Kansas City. Detective Lawson and other officers were patrolling the area when they were notified of the robbery. When the officers abandoned their patrol vehicle and chased the suspects on foot, a gunfight ensued. Detective Lawson caught up with two of the subjects in the alley at Fourteenth Street and Euclid and fired, but one of the suspects returned fire and struck him in the head and shoulder. He was found in front of 1416 Euclid in Kansas City. Another detective and a patrolman were also wounded in the gunfight. The next night, one suspect was shot and killed by detectives at a local rooming house. Another suspect was arrested a few weeks later. Detective Lawson had served as a law enforcement officer with the Kansas City Police Department for two years and previously worked as a police chauffeur.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, parents, and three sisters.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Detective Lawson gave the Kansas City Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Lawson.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Kansas City, Cass County, MO
Platform Identity kcpd.jackson.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 7, 1924
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

George is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1924, 225 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

George was 36. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. George had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Kansas City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, George among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective George E. Lawson

Kansas City Police Department · End of Watch March 7, 1924

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-W

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