By Marvin Anderson
The Roanoke Times
ROANOKE, Va. — The Roanoke Police Department is sponsoring a fundraiser for an officer who was beaten and paralyzed while attempting to subdue a suspect earlier this month.
The motorcycle run in honor of Officer Bryan Lawrence is set to begin June 14 at the Roanoke Civic Center.
Lawrence was paralyzed from the chest down during the May 10 assault. He is now a patient at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, where he is undergoing rehabilitation. It’s unclear whether his paralysis is temporary or how long his recovery could take.
Sgt. Bob Chandler said after he heard of the severity of Lawrence’s injuries, two retired police officers called him and said they wanted to organize an event to help Lawrence.
Much of Lawrence’s medical treatment is covered by insurance, but Chandler said Lawrence and his family will experience many unforeseen costs.
“The expenses of the family, of traveling, adds up more than any one can imagine,” Chandler said. “He’s going to have to make changes. All that takes money.”
Chandler recently began organizing the event and said all money will be donated to Lawrence.
At first, Chandler planned for a poker run, in which motorcycle riders draw cards at set stations along the ride and compete for the best hand. But the organizers changed their plans to a benefit ride after receiving an overwhelming response.
“After we started doing this, we started seeing how many people he touched in the valley,” Chandler said. Many more riders expressed interest than a poker run could accommodate.
Participants will begin a course at the Roanoke Civic Center, then head down U.S. 460 to Bedford, then along Virginia 122 to Smith Mountain Lake and take Virginia 679 and U.S. 220 back to Roanoke. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and riders will start the course at 10 a.m.
Registration is $20 per participant. Meals will also be available after the event at $7 per person. A silent auction will be held, and raffle tickets for prizes will be sold.
Officers said they have received donations of gift cards, guitars, artwork and electronics for the benefit and food for the meals after the event.
With Roanoke’s outpouring of gratitude, Chandler said the benefit is a statement on Lawrence’s positive impression on Southwest Virginia.
“We can see four [hundred] to 600 people at this,” Chandler said. “People from Southwest Virginia and the southwest region of the country are calling in to help. This is incredible.”
In the attack on Lawrence, police have charged William Steele Jr., 18, of Roanoke with malicious wounding of an officer and felony obstruction.
They also charged Dantonio Foster, 25, of Roanoke with felony obstruction and malicious wounding in a related incident.
Copyright 2008 The Roanoke Times