Roll of Honor
Incident
Town Marshal Fred Foster succumbed to injuries sustained the previous morning while attempting to arrest three men for acting disorderly and interrupting a church service.
Parishioners had called for Marshal Foster after the three drunk men began causing a disturbance in front of the Presbyterian Church at about 10:00 am. As the men left in their car, Marshal Foster jumped on the running board to place them under arrest. One of the men struck Marshal Foster in the head with a metal object, causing him to fall to the ground.
Marshal Foster suffered a fractured skull and was taken to a hospital in Athens where he died shortly after midnight.
All three men were charged with Marshal Foster's murder. One was convicted of murder and sent to prison but was paroled on October 3rd, 1929. One of the other men was found not guilty, and the third had charges dismissed.
Marshal Foster had served with the Center Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-4AC6C2C5- 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.
Town Marshal Crawford gave the Center Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Center community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Marshal Crawford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Town Marshal Fred Foster Crawford 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Fred Foster Crawford's cause is highlighted.
How Fred Foster Crawford Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted of murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Fred Foster Crawford is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Fred Foster Crawford was killed by blunt object.