Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer David Crawford was shot and killed after responding to a report of a suspicious person.
At approximately 10:30 pm, Officer Crawford and another officer responded to a report of a suspicious person in the 700 block of 3rd Avenue after a citizen observed a male walking through his backyard with a broken brick in his hand. Officer Crawford canvassed the area and found the subject near the southwest corner of 2nd Avenue S and 8th Street S. He parked his patrol car and approached the male.
At some point during the encounter there was an exchange of gunfire and Officer Crawford was shot and wounded. He was not wearing his vest at the time. He was taken to Bayfront Medical Center where he died from his wounds.
The suspect fled and after a 24-hour search, a 16-year-old male was arrested and charged with first degree murder. On March 23, 2012, he was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In October 2013, the subject was again sentenced to life in prison following a review of his original sentence.
Officer Crawford had served with the St. Petersburg Police Department for 25 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-856B0945- 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
25 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Crawford gave the St. Petersburg Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the St. Petersburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Crawford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer David Scott Crawford 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At St. Petersburg Police Department, 12 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Scott Crawford's cause is highlighted.
How David Scott Crawford Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Scott Crawford is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David Scott Crawford was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from St. Petersburg Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
