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Private

Fred Jasper Crenshaw

United States Capitol Police — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch January 5, 1952

Age 69

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 88 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Location: District of Columbia Incident Date: Sunday, June 27, 1948 Weapon: Handgun Offender: Sentenced to 5 to 15 years

Private Fred Crenshaw succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on June 27th, 1948, while assisting other officers with the arrest of several suspicious men on the grounds of the west front of the United States Capitol Building.

The other officers were searching for suspects involved in several recent robberies on the grounds and encountered the three men. Private Crenshaw was on duty at the House Office Building and had been relieved to take his break and get fresh air. As he was walking in the area the other officers asked him to take one of the men to the guardhouse at the Senate Office Building for further questioning. The other two men suddenly fled on foot and the other officers pursued them.

As Private Crenshaw walked the subject toward a callbox the man suddenly produced a pistol and shot him twice. Despite his wounds, Private Crenshaw returned fire but did not strike the subject.

When the officers returned to the guardhouse they discovered that Private Crenshaw had not arrived. They began searching for him and located him suffering from several gunshot wounds. He was taken to Casualty Hospital in critical condition with a bullet lodged near his spine. He never fully recovered and remained in declining health. He died from complications of the original gunshot wounds on January 5th, 1952.

The man who shot him was convicted of assault with intent to kill and was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison.

Private Crenshaw had served with the United States Capitol Police for two years. He was survived by his wife and six siblings. He was predeceased by his son.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and six siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FED-CC3281C1
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.
Private Crenshaw gave the United States Capitol Police 2 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Private Crenshaw.

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

Agency

Department United States Capitol Police

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity uscp.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 5, 1952

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 69

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to 5 to 15 years

Private Fred Jasper Crenshaw 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At United States Capitol Police, 4 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.

United States Capitol Police

of 7 officers

57.1% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious