Solemn honor: Final respects for Bend PD Sgt. Lawrence

Officers from across the High Desert joined in a procession Friday to pay their final respects to Bend police Sgt. John Lawrence, who died last week of natural causes at the age of 43.

A sea of police lights proceeded silently down Greenwood Avenue in Bend.

“It’s tough whenever we lose anybody from our family,” said Bend Police Chief Jim Porter. “It’s really tough when we lose someone who was as well-respected and well-liked as Sgt. John Lawrence was.”

Lawrence was with the Bend police force for 14 years.During that time, he was the lead officer on homicide cases and armed robberies. In one case, he also helped recover nearly $750,000 that had been stolen from a widow.

“But I think the ones that really define John were two other letters I found from citizens,” Porter said. “The one letter talks about how a 5-year old received a bicycle. Within hours it was stolen from him. The parents were at a loss, his heart was crushed and they didn’t have the money to replace the bike.”

Within hours, Lawrence found the bike and brought it back.

“John used his personal zeal, the same zeal that he went after murderers, with to find that boy’s bike,” Porter said.

Officers from Bend PD, the Oregon State Police, the Deschutes Sheriff’s Office and the Bend Fire Department all paid their respects.

The Band of Brothers put up flags along the Veterans Memorial Bridge and saluted the passing procession.

“Basically we’re here to honor his service and his family,” said Jerry Johnson of the Band of Brothers.

Porter said of Lawrence, “I’ll miss his laugh. You cannot do it justice by explaining it. But it was like opening a box and confetti blew out. It was infectious. Everybody who listened — he made you want to laugh with him.”