Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Crosswhite was shot and killed as he attempted to enter a farmhouse in search of two suspects. Deputy Crosswhite had served in law enforcement for 10 years He served as constable in Polk county for five years, as Ash Grove city marshal for two years and as Greene County Deputy Sheriff for three years. He was survived by his wife, four sons, two daughters and his mother. Two brothers considered local petty burglars killed a total of seven Law Enforcement Officers. After they killed Town Marshal Mark Noe on June 2, 1929, a massive manhunt began for the suspects. The two suspects were located at the family farmhouse on January 2, 1932. They had come to town to visit their mother for the Christmas holiday. A raiding party of eleven officers was formed to arrest the two brothers. As the officers surrounded the farmhouse gunfire erupted and in the end six officers lay dead. The suspects escaped, and fled to Texas. They were located there by Houston Police and as police moved in the two suspects committed suicide.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, four sons, two daughters and his mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-4B837925- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Crosswhite gave the Greene County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Springfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Crosswhite.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Oliver Rufus Crosswhite 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Greene County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Oliver Rufus Crosswhite's cause is highlighted.
How Oliver Rufus Crosswhite Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Oliver Rufus Crosswhite is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Oliver Rufus Crosswhite was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Greene County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
