On May 10, 2008, Officer Bryan Lawrence was working off-duty to provide security on a Saturday night when he heard on his radio that a woman had been assaulted at a gas station not far from where he was. Officer Lawrence spotted the two suspects walking. He approached the suspects and when they heard their names on the radio they fled. Officer Lawrence chased them and was in the process of apprehending one suspect when the other assaulted him.

An 18-year-old youth kicked him so hard in the head that a shoe print was left imprinted on him a day later. Because Officer Lawrence was alert when backup arrived and was able to give a full description, the suspects were apprehended about 45 minutes later. However, Officer Lawrence's neck was broken and he was paralyzed from the shoulders down. He is currently in intensive physical therapy and is in the process of retraining himself to walk.

Officer Lawrence is as well known for his good deeds in the community as he is for his police work. Every Mother's Day he would buy roses and bring them to a local nursing home. As a result of the attack, the roses he bought Saturday for Mother's Day were never delivered the next morning. He also organized and ran an annual motorcycle fundraiser for Alzheimer's patients, as well as helped people with Autism and Down syndrome. His goal for the future is to become a minister, a position that will enable him to selflessly continue to serve his community.

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