Services to be held for former Richmond officer

RICHMOND, R.I. (WLNE) — Services will be held today for a former Richmond officer who died unexpectedly from an illness.

Sgt. Michael W. Lawing was a member of the Richmond Police Department since 2001, and was promoted to the role of sergeant in 2011.

Lawing was also credited with starting the department’s K-9 and body camera programs.

According to his obituary, he was also a United States Marine Veteran and a Lieutenant on the Richmond-Carolina Volunteer Fire Association.

Lawing was an avid outdoorsman and treasured the time he spent fishing on the waters with his son Grayson and his father.

He was also member of the Rhode Island Commercial Rod and Reel Association and several other fishing organizations.

He leaves behind his three kids, as well as his wife.

His services will be held at 11:00 a.m. at The Richmond-Carolina Fire Department.

Burial with full military honors will follow in Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery in Exeter.

For those who want to donate, the family has created a GoFundMe.

A local restaurant that Lawing would frequent created a fundraiser for his family that has since raised over $13,000.