In the quiet town of Clarksville, Virginia, a young life dedicated to public service was tragically cut short on March 12, 1985. Harvey Glenn Lawson Jr., a 21-year-old White male, had been a police officer with the Clarksville Police Department for only a year, yet he was known as a warm and caring individual who always wore a smile. His dream of being a police officer had been realized after graduating from the Central Virginia Justice Academy in June of the previous year.
On that fateful Tuesday, Officer Lawson was on duty when a call came in. A man who had been arrested for drunk driving earlier in the day and released to his wife was once again behind the wheel. It was reported that the man was seeking revenge on the officer who had initially arrested him. Officer Lawson located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Fourth Street and Market Street in the heart of downtown Clarksville. During this encounter, the driver fired a shotgun, striking Officer Lawson and ending his life.
The senseless act of violence sent shockwaves through the close-knit community. The suspect was swiftly apprehended by law enforcement. Following an investigation and trial, the man was convicted for the murder of Officer Harvey Glenn Lawson Jr. and received a sentence of 50 years in prison for his crime.
In the decades that followed, the memory of Officer Lawson has been kept alive by his family, friends, and the law enforcement community. He was survived by his wife and two young daughters. Nearly four decades after his ultimate sacrifice, the Town of Clarksville officially honored his memory by dedicating a portion of Virginia Avenue/Highway 58 Business as the 'Police Officer Harvey Glenn Lawson Jr. Memorial Highway.' This lasting tribute ensures that his service and the sacrifice he made to protect his community will never be forgotten.
