Fortune Crowder

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office — Pine Bluff, AR

Felonious

End of Watch October 5, 1953

Age 39

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 89 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Crowder was shot and killed in an ambush while driving home from an investigation. It is believed that he was shot as the result of his relentless efforts to combat bootlegging in the county. A suspect was arrested but charges were later dropped due to a lack of evidence.

Deputy Crowder had served with the agency for 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-40F3B50C
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.
Deputy Sheriff Crowder gave the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pine Bluff community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Crowder.

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

Agency

Department Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

Location Pine Bluff, AR

Platform Identity jcso.jefferson.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 5, 1953

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Deputy Sheriff Fortune Crowder 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

AR — Statewide

249

of 372 officers

66.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious