Memorial Honors Murdered DPS Officer
Flowers, vigil candles and photos of Keith Lawrence comprised a small memorial to the USC Division of Public Safety officer who was murdered, along with his fiancee Monica Quan, last week.
The memorial, which began Thursday, stands outside DPS headquarters on the ground floor of parking structure A, near 36th and Vermont Ave.
Passers-by jotted notes of remembrance, thanking Lawrence for his service to the USC community. Other notes, written by colleagues in DPS, expressed grief over the death of a well-liked colleague.
"[Lawrence] was really nice to cadets," said Cadet Corporal Ryan Lopez, who was at the candlelight vigil Friday night.
"I usually saw him while I was doing work in my office. He'd always be really nice and have a smile," Lopez said.
Shortly after Lawrence's death was announced, John Thomas, chief and executive director of USC's DPS, released a statement describing Lawrence as "an honorable, compassionate and professional member of our department and the Trojan Family."
"We are a better department and the USC Campus Community is a safer place as a result of [Lawrence's] service," Thomas said.
Lawrence, 27, joined DPS during the summer of 2012, according to officials. He was engaged to Quan, 28, an assistant women's basketball coach at California State University, Fullerton.
Los Angeles Police Department officials have identified Christopher Dorner, former LAPD officer, as the primary suspect in the murder of Quan and Lawrence.
