Lawrence Police Department

10/06/2026

Always great seeing our officers connecting with the community!

09/30/2026

Congratulations to Officer Patterson on this recognition. Thank you for going beyond in your service to the young members of our community. We’re proud to have you representing LPD.

Congratulations to Lawrence Central High School officers Mr. Herschel Jackson and Joshua Patterson on their recognition this evening at the Board of Education meeting with the Above & Beyond Award. Thank you for your service!

09/03/2026

Yesterday afternoon, the Lawrence Police Department responded to a request for assistance from federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents regarding a wanted individual within the City of Lawrence.

ICE agents were attempting to apprehend an individual who had felony narcotics warrants out of Texas with full extradition. During the attempted apprehension, the suspect fled from ICE agents and entered a local Lawrence business, where he barricaded himself inside and took control of the premises.

At that point, ICE contacted the Lawrence Police Department and requested assistance. LPD officers responded because the situation had developed into an immediate public-safety incident within our jurisdiction involving a wanted felony suspect who had fled from law enforcement and barricaded himself inside a local business. Our involvement was focused on protecting the employees, customers, responding officers, and surrounding community and assisting in bringing the incident to a safe resolution.

It is important to be clear about the Lawrence Police Department's role and position regarding immigration enforcement. Immigration enforcement is primarily the responsibility of the federal government, not the Lawrence Police Department. LPD does not conduct immigration sweeps or participate in federal immigration enforcement operations simply for the purpose of identifying or apprehending individuals based on their immigration status. Our officers do not routinely inquire about a person's immigration status during ordinary police contacts.

Our priority is, and will continue to be, the safety of everyone who lives, works, and visits the City of Lawrence, regardless of their background or immigration status. Maintaining the trust of our community is essential to effective policing. We want every resident to feel comfortable calling the police when they are a victim of a crime, witness criminal activity, or need emergency assistance.

Yesterday's incident should not be confused with LPD participating in an ICE immigration enforcement operation. This was not a Lawrence Police Department operation, and LPD was not involved in planning or initiating the enforcement action. ICE requested our assistance only after the wanted individual fled and barricaded himself inside a Lawrence business.

Additionally, the Lawrence Police Department has not been asked to participate in or assist with any other ICE-related enforcement details taking place in the Indianapolis area.

When another law enforcement agency requests our assistance with an immediate public-safety situation in our jurisdiction—particularly one involving a wanted felony suspect who has fled from law enforcement and barricaded himself inside a business—we have a responsibility to respond. Our response yesterday was about public safety and the apprehension of a wanted felony suspect, not immigration enforcement.

There will be no additional information provided due to this being an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

08/22/2026

Community Safety Day is tomorrow!

Join us Saturday, August 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lee Road Park for a fun day with bounce houses, free hot dogs, community resources, a Bike Safety Course, and live demonstrations from the Lawrence Police Department and Lawrence Fire Department.

Come meet your local public safety officers and see some of the work they do to keep our community safe.

Event Schedule:
10:00 a.m. – PHI Helicopter Lands
11:15–11:30 a.m. – K9 Demonstration
11:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m. – SWAT Demonstration
12:00 p.m. – PHI Helicopter Departs
12:15–12:30 p.m. – Taser Demonstration
12:30–12:45 p.m. – Vehicle Extraction Demonstration
1:00–1:30 p.m. – Lawrence Fire vs. Lawrence Police Kickball Game
1:30 p.m. – Mayor Whitfield’s Closing Remarks

All Day, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.:
Community vendors and resources
Kiwanis Bike Safety Course

Bring the family and join us for Safety Day 2026 at Lee Road Park!

08/14/2026

🚨Update🚨

Lee Road is currently back OPEN.

🚧 ROAD CLOSURE – FLOODING 🚧

Lee Road is currently CLOSED due to flooding from the area of 63rd Street north to 71st Street/Fall Creek Road.

Please avoid the area and use an alternate route. Do not attempt to drive through standing or moving water.

We will provide an update when the roadway is safe to reopen.

Please use caution and allow extra time if traveling in the area.

07/29/2026

07/26/2026

Help Protect LPD's Newest Canine Officer, Remi!

Remi is a Mali-Herd serving with the Lawrence Police Department as a dual-purpose narcotic and patrol/apprehension K9. A quirky young pup, Remi works alongside officers to perform narcotic detection and […]

07/25/2026

A huge thank you to Moo & Lou Frozen Treats for their incredible generosity in providing ice cream and treats for our first responders 📞🚔🚒🚑 during their annual Kindess Tour!

Your thoughtful gesture brought smiles to our faces and was a wonderful way to show appreciation for the men and women who serve our community every day. Thank you for helping make our day a little sweeter! 🍨

07/16/2026

Community Safety Update – Persimmon Ridge & Persimmon Creek

The Lawrence Police Department is aware of the recent reports of vehicle break-ins in the Persimmon Ridge and Persimmon Creek neighborhoods. We understand these incidents are concerning, and we want residents to know that we are actively investigating these cases and taking steps to deter additional criminal activity.

In response, we have established a Patrol When Possible (PWP) for both neighborhoods. This means officers have been directed to provide increased patrols and extra attention to the area whenever they are available between calls for service. The goal is to increase officer visibility, deter criminal activity, and identify those responsible.

At this time, all of the vehicles that were entered were unlocked. While no one should ever become the victim of a crime, locking your vehicle is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent these types of thefts. Criminals often target neighborhoods by walking from vehicle to vehicle checking door handles. If a vehicle is locked, they typically move on to the next one.

To help protect yourself and your property, we encourage everyone to:

Always lock your vehicle doors, even when parked in your driveway.

Remove all valuables from your vehicle or keep them out of sight, including fi****ms, wallets, purses, electronics, backpacks, and loose change.

Turn on exterior lighting and ensure any home security cameras are functioning properly.

Review your security camera footage if you notice suspicious activity.

Report suspicious activity immediately. If you observe someone checking vehicle door handles or acting suspiciously, call 911 while it is occurring so officers can respond quickly.

If you have surveillance footage or any information that may assist with these investigations, please contact the Lawrence Police Department at 317-545-7575. Even small details can be valuable in identifying those responsible.

We appreciate the partnership of the residents in Persimmon Ridge and Persimmon Creek.

07/14/2026

The Lawrence Police Department is excited to be part of the 55th Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration this weekend!

If you're attending, be sure to stop by and say hello. You'll find the City of Lawrence Police Department in Hall I, Booth #710.

Our officers look forward to meeting you, answering questions, and connecting with the community.

We'll see you at Black Expo, July 17–19 at the Indiana Convention Center!