Conway Police Department, Arkansas
End of Watch: Monday, November 7, 1988
Age: 42
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: 22
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 7, 1988
Weapon Used: Handgun; .44 caliber
Suspect Info: Paroled in 2004
Police Officer Lawrence Noblitt was shot and killed while on patrol.
Officer Noblitt saw a man hooking up to a flatbed trailer and advised the radio dispatcher that he would be investigating. During the investigation, he was shot five times at point-blank range. Although mortally wounded, he chased the suspect approximately 50-feet before collapsing. A passing civilian called for help over Officer Noblitt's police radio.
It was later discovered that Officer Noblitt's killer was involved in a criminal conspiracy to commit theft and robbery with the help of two other Conway police officers. Those officers were also arrested. The shooter was originally sentenced to death but had the sentence overturned on a technicality. He was eventually sentenced to a total of 36 years in state prison for the theft and murder. He was paroled from state prison in June 2004 but was transferred to federal prison to begin a 20-year federal sentence for unrelated narcotics violations.
Officer Noblitt had been a member of the Conway Police Department for 10 years and also served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He is survived by his wife and daughter.