An officer, the son of the recently-retired Lakewood police chief, was bid a tearful farewell on Sunday.
Patrolman Craig Lawson (Lakewood police). LAKEWOOD -- It was a somber scene outside of the Lakewood funeral home Sunday afternoon where the township's police department gathered to pay their respects to a young officer who had joined the force just two years ago.
"Although he was only with us two short years he was an amazing, larger than life character," Lt. Greg Staffordsmith of the Lakewood police department said. "He had an amazing impact on us and the community he served as well."
Patrolman Craig Lawson, 31, died unexpectedly Thursday morning from an unknown medical condition.
"Today we celebrate his life," Staffordsmith said.
Lawson -- the son of Robert Lawson who retired as chief of Lakewood department last month after 35 years -- joined the force in April of 2014 and was a patrolman who worked evening shifts.
"He definitely wanted to follow in his father's footsteps," Staffordsmith said.
Lawson, he said, displayed an "amazing interest" in firearms and firearm safety and the department has lost a future leader and firearms specialist.
Lawson was unmarried and has no children.
An autopsy has been performed but the official cause of death has not yet been released.
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