Columbus Lafayette Croy
Agency patch
Town Marshal

Columbus Lafayette Croy

Woodburn Police Department — Woodburn, IN
Felonious
End of Watch June 7, 1907
Age 44
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
The Vigil Panel 21 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Town Marshal Columbus Croy was shot and killed while responding to a burglary in progress at 1:00 am. Marshal Croy was at home asleep when he was alerted to the robbery at the store 500 feet from his home. As he approached the store one of the suspects ordered him to stop. Marshal Croy continued to walk towards the store and the suspect opened fire. Marshal Croy returned fire but was struck in the heart and mortally wounded. The suspects fled to a nearby train station where they hopped on a train heading towards Chicago or Detroit. All four of the suspects were later apprehended. Two were convicted of murder and sentenced to two to 21 years. A third suspect was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to two to 21 years. All three were released in 1911. Charges were dismissed against the fourth suspect who turned state's evidence. Marshal Croy had served with the Woodburn Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-25888A07
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Columbus. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Town Marshal Croy gave the Woodburn Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Woodburn community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Marshal Croy.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Woodburn, Allen County, IN
Platform Identity wpd.allen.in.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 7, 1907
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Town Marshal Columbus Lafayette Croy is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Woodburn Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
IN — Statewide
311
of 503 officers
61.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Columbus Lafayette Croy's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Columbus Lafayette Croy Compares

Age at Death
44
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Columbus Lafayette Croy is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Columbus Lafayette Croy was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Woodburn Police Department are honored on badge.nw.