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Incident
Officer David Crowther succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two weeks earlier when he was shot while serving a narcotics warrant at 9014 North Lombard Street. He and eight other members of his unit were serving the warrant at the clubhouse of a local motorcycle gang around 9:00 p.m. As they forced the door open, one of the occupants opened fire with a shotgun, striking Officer Crowther in the head. Thirteen members of the gang were arrested and charged with narcotics violations and Officer Crowther's murder. The shooter was convicted of first-degree manslaughter and sentenced to 10-20 years. In 1983, his conviction was upheld, but his sentence was set aside, and he was released for time served. Officer Crowther had served with the Portland Police Bureau for four years and was assigned to the Special Investigation Division.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
NW-E061-8NQF-Nearlier record number BO-US-OR-AF9B10A2- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Crowther gave the Portland Police Bureau 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Portland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Crowther.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Portland Police Bureau has lost 31 officers; 12 of them killed feloniously.
David is one of 115 officers killed feloniously in OR, 58.4% of the 197 remembered there.
David is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.
David is one of 17,629 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,910 remembered here.
33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1979, 1 officer at Portland Police Bureau was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1979, 2 officers in OR were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 75 years on record. The heaviest was 1931, with 5.
In 1979, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1979, 153 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
David was 27. Of the 12 killed feloniously at Portland Police Bureau whose age is recorded, half were between 40.3 and 61.3; the middle age was 43. David had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
David was 27. Of the 97 killed feloniously in OR whose age is recorded, half were between 36 and 51; the middle age was 43. David had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6.5 years.
David was 27. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. David had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
David was 27. Of the 15,849 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. David had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 8.3% of these deaths at Portland Police Bureau; January holds the most, 16.7%. Thursdays: 8.3%.
December holds 11.3% of these deaths in OR; November holds the most, 12.2%. Thursdays: 13%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 38.7% of all 31 deaths at Portland Police Bureau, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 8.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 58.4% of all 197 deaths in OR, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 5.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,910 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
His people
Portland Police Bureau has 31 officers remembered here, David among them.
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Thomas G. O'Connor
Aug 30, 1867
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Charles F. Schoppe
Jun 13, 1874
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Samuel Smyth Young
Sep 23, 1908
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Albert W. Moe
Jan 9, 1914
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James R. White
Nov 17, 1914
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Ralph H. Stahl
Jan 27, 1915
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James C. Gill
Nov 30, 1915
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John J. McCarthy
Jul 21, 1916
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Andrew James Laugeson
May 12, 1917
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Glenn Logan Litzenberg
Apr 19, 1918
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Peter Walter Jost Oct 22, 1918
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Jerome Palmer
Nov 17, 1920
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James David Wright
Jan 21, 1923
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Robert E. Drake
Oct 11, 1930
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Charles M. White
Jun 30, 1934
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Phillip R. Johnson
May 19, 1941
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Charles E. Vincent
Mar 22, 1942
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James A. Hines
Nov 4, 1945
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Gilbert Haven Horton
Dec 23, 1946
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Roy Edward Mizner
Feb 18, 1956
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Vernon Jacob Stroeder
Feb 18, 1956
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Roger L. Davies
Apr 18, 1961
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Robert Paul Murray
May 2, 1962
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Robert R. Ferron, Jr.
May 23, 1964
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Stephen Michael Owens
Sep 23, 1973
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Dennis Allen Darden
Aug 9, 1974
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David Wayne Crowther
Dec 27, 1979
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Stanley D. Pounds
Jul 18, 1984
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Thomas Layton Jeffries
Jul 21, 1997
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Colleen Ann Waibel
Jan 27, 1998
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Kirk Robert Huffstetler
May 26, 2002
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 61-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
30 officers from Portland Police Bureau are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
