Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Howard Crumley was shot and killed with his own service revolver while making a traffic stop of a speeding car. Unbeknownst to Trooper Crumley, the two brothers who were in the car had just murdered another man before being pulled over. As Trooper Crumley searched one of the suspects on the hood of his patrol car the second suspect confronted him with a weapon and disarmed him of his service revolver. One of the suspects then shot him and the two fled. The suspects abducted a couple a short time later and began to drive around the area. After releasing the male hostage they forced the female hostage to continue driving. At some point one of the brothers committed suicide and the other brother forced the woman to drive him to a hospital. After leaving the hospital the pair were followed by a security guard. When the suspect went into the home of another brother the security guard contacted the female and then contacted police, who arrested the man at the location. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was denied parole in December 2014 and again in December 2017. Trooper Crumley had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-A28DA96E- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Crumley gave the Oklahoma Highway Patrol 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Crumley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper Howard M. Crumley 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 69.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 19 of 39 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Howard M. Crumley's cause is highlighted.
How Howard M. Crumley Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Howard M. Crumley is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Howard M. Crumley was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
38 officers from Oklahoma Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
