T. Dwight Crittenden
Agency patch
Deputy City Marshal

T. Dwight Crittenden

Los Angeles City Municipal Court — Los Angeles, CA
Felonious
End of Watch February 17, 1938
Age 61
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
The Vigil Panel 74 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy City Marshal Dwight Crittenden and Deputy Marshal Leon W. Romer were shot and killed while attempting to serve an eviction warrant at a home at 1741 East 23rd Street. The suspect opened fire on the two deputy marshals when he was told he would have to leave the home.

Deputy Marshal Romer was able to stumble outside, where he collapsed in the front yard. The suspect then shot Deputy Marshal Crittenden in the back as he retreated into the street to seek cover. Responding officers engaged the suspect in an hour-long gun battle, wounding him four times.

On June 1, 1938, the man, 54, was convicted of two counts of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison.

Deputy Crittenden had served with the Los Angeles City Municipal Court for 12 years.

Survivors

Survivors include his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-220A4D13
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew T.. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy City Marshal Crittenden gave the Los Angeles City Municipal Court 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy City Marshal Crittenden.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Los Angeles, CA
Platform Identity lac.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 17, 1938
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 61
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Rifle
Offender Sentenced to 20 years

Deputy City Marshal T. Dwight Crittenden 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Los Angeles City Municipal Court, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Los Angeles City Municipal Court
4
of 4 officers
100% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. T. Dwight Crittenden's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How T. Dwight Crittenden Compares

Age at End of Watch
61
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
12
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 20 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. T. Dwight Crittenden is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. T. Dwight Crittenden was killed by rifle.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location