Charles Weir Crankshaw

Atlanta Police Department — Atlanta, GA

Felonious

End of Watch February 2, 1930

Age 32

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 59 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 87

Incident

Patrolman Charles Crankshaw was shot and killed when he and another officer attempted to search a subject suspected of carrying a concealed weapon in a store. When the officers attempted to stop the subject he drew a gun and fired, striking Patrolman Crankshaw three times. The other officer shot and fatally wounded the suspect as he fled form the scene. The suspect ran to a nearby hospital where he died from his wounds. It was later discovered that he was a convict who had escaped from the Confederate Soldiers Home in Atlanta where he had been assigned to special duty. Patrolman Crankshaw had served with the Atlanta Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-6963F6A8
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Crankshaw gave the Atlanta Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Crankshaw.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Atlanta Police Department

Location Atlanta, GA

Platform Identity apd.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 2, 1930

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Shot and killed

Patrolman Charles Weir Crankshaw is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Atlanta Police Department, 58 of 88 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.9% of this agency's fallen.

Atlanta Police Department

of 88 officers

65.9% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious