In April 1967, Officer Laseman 26 was shot and wounded during a traffic stop.  While on routine patrol on the late night shift, the officer stopped a car observed leaving a known gambling and bootleg joint.  The car was weaving badly.  The driver was an intoxicated black man.  Officer Laseman attempted to take the man into custody.  As the officer placed one cuff on him, the man started to resist and escaped.  Officer Laseman pursued him on foot catching up to him when the man ran into a wire fence in the dark.  The man continued to struggle with the officer and gained possession of the officer’s weapon.  The man fired a shot striking Laseman in the right shoulder.  When the man tried to fire again, Laseman grabbed the barrel of the weapon just as the gun fired.  The bullet entered near the left eye, traveled under the skin and exited behind the left ear.  The third shot slightly grazed the right side of his head.  Two other officers arrived on the scene and subdued the suspect.  N. H. Laseman was back at work a month later.  This was before ballistic vests, tazers, pepper spray, collapsible batons or portable radios.

The suspect had a long criminal history dating back to 1938.  He was tried in 1968 and received two five year sentences for assault to commit homicide and perjury.  He was released from prison in 1970 after serving two years.  He was arrested again in 1976 for carrying a firearm and sentenced to life in prison where he died in the 1980’s.

In the following years, N.H. Laseman was promoted to Patrol Sergeant and then Lieutenant.  In 1976 he was given command of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID).  He could have just assigned the cases to his subordinates.  Instead he took on the most difficult cases himself.  For forty years, he’s worked on every major criminal case investigated by the Cleburne Police Department.  His work ethic has served as a model for every officer assigned to CID. He has always arrived early and stayed late.

In the mid 1990’s N.H. Laseman was assigned to the District Attorney’s office as liaison between the prosecutor’s office and the police department.  In 2002, Chief Powell promoted Laseman to Deputy Chief with overall command over CID.

No other officer has received more commendations and awards, not only from the police department but also from the City Council, Attorneys Association, the District Attorney’s Office, and several Civic Organizations.  Such recognition is indicative of the respect they have for this officer.  The Cleburne Police Department is very proud to claim this officer as one our own.