Roll of Honor
Incident
Corporal James Crump and Officer Arnold Strickland were shot and killed at 5:30 am when a suspect grabbed the service weapon of one of the officers and opened fire.
The officers were booking the suspect at the police department for operating a stolen vehicle when the incident occurred. Besides killing both officers, the suspect also shot and killed Dispatcher Leslie "Ace" Mealer, who was in the dispatcher's office at the time. The suspect then stole a patrol car and fled the scene. Deputies from the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office, Mississippi, apprehended the suspect three hours later.
The suspect, 18, was convicted of capital murder and was sentenced to death on October 6, 2005.
The Fayette Police Department is a 14-person law enforcement agency.
Corporal Crump had ten years of law enforcement experience and had served with the Fayette Police Department for two and a half years.
Survivors
He is survived by his son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-8517E4B5- 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.
Corporal Crump gave the Fayette Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fayette community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Crump.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corporal James Eddie Crump 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Fayette Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Eddie Crump's cause is highlighted.
How James Eddie Crump Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Eddie Crump is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Eddie Crump was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Fayette Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
