David Wayne Crowther

Portland Police Bureau — Portland, OR

Felonious

End of Watch December 27, 1979

Age 27

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 122 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 30

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: BO-US-OR-AF9B10A2
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.
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

Department Portland Police Bureau

Location Portland, OR

Platform Identity ppb.multnomah.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 27, 1979

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge

Offender Convicted of manslaughter

Officer David Wayne Crowther 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 OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 4.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Portland Police Bureau, 12 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.7% of this agency's fallen.

Portland Police Bureau

of 31 officers

38.7% Felonious

OR — Statewide

115

of 197 officers

58.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious