Lawrence Newcomb medically retired from the Houston Police Department after 22 years of service on October 31, 1999 with the rank of Sergeant. On his day off, March 14, 1997, after picking up his paycheck at HPD Central Station, Lawrence drove down Preston heading south. As he was crossing Smith street, an underage drunk driver sped through a red light and hit Newcomb's motorcycle with his pickup at the 400 block of Smith and Preston. Lawrence was thrown over 75 feet. He managed to pull himself to the curb and out of the middle of the street before losing consciousness. Newcomb suffered severe head, leg and hip injuries. It appeared that his left leg would have to be amputated and the site in his left eye would be lost. It happened that surgeons from Russia who had expertise in reattaching limbs were at Herman Hospital that night. The team began the laborious process of reattaching the already nearly severed lower leg. The fourth day at Herman Hospital, a Monday, also marked Newcomb's seventh anniversary as an HPD sergeant. Newcomb worked on numerous posts since becoming an HPD officer April 22, 1978, including patrol and special operations and homicide photographer.
Seventeen operations later, with skin from his right thigh and the muscle from his right shoulder, and a whole lot of willpower and initiative, Newcomb was able to disprove doctors' prognosis of never being able to ride a motorcycle again or for that matter, walk without assistance of crutches, a cane or walkers. During his recovery, fellow officer Mondel "Mad Dog" Martin who was President and cofounder of the Los Carnales Motorcycle Club, organized a fund raiser to help Newcomb with financial and medical expenses that were building. They had known each other as fellow officers and soon became close friends. "Mad Dog" sponsored Newcomb into the Club when he became able to ride again and nicknamed him "Nuke'um". "Nuke'um" joined the Houston Chapter and was later selected as a Sgt of Arms.
"Nuke'um" loved the club, and in 2001was elected as the National Secretary. In 2003, he co-founded the current North Houston Chapter with Rico. He loved to write and enjoyed contributing his outlooks in a section called "Harley Tales". He wrote many stories for the LCMC monthly newsletter during his two terms as National Secretary. "Nuke'um" moved to San Angelo, TX and refurbished an old Victorian style home. Shortly after he finished it, at the age of 46, "Nuke'um" suffered a fatal heart attack.
