Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff J.M. Crim was accidentally shot and killed inside the federal building in Columbus, Georgia, while appearing as a witness in federal court.
He had placed his coat, which contained his revolver, on a wash stand when he went into the restroom. Another person entered the restroom and moved the coat, causing the revolver to fall to the ground and discharge. The round ricocheted off the ground and struck Deputy Crim in the chest, causing a fatal wound. He was transported to the city hospital where he died the following day.
Deputy Crim was a U.S. military veteran and had previously served as the police chief of the Manchester Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-0BFA83EB- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Crim served with the Meriwether County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Greenville community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
J. M. Crim served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff J. M. Crim is one of 10,094 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,585 officers honored here.
In GA, 263 of 903 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.9 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Meriwether County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. J. M. Crim's cause is highlighted.
How J. M. Crim Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. J. M. Crim is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Military Service
J. M. Crim served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Meriwether County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
