Roll of Honor

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Night Watchman

Edgar A. Cranston

Constantine Police Department — Constantine, MI

Felonious

End of Watch August 11, 1899

Age 54

The Vigil Panel 15 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Night Watchman Edgar Cranston was shot and killed in the early morning hours after he came upon a group of burglars who were attempting to force their way into a post office. As Night Watchman Cranston confronted the suspects, they opened fire, striking him multiple times in the chest. He died shortly thereafter.

The suspects fled the scene, but a team of bloodhounds tracked at least one of the men back to his home. The suspect was arrested and charged with murder.

Night Watchman Cranston was survived by his wife of 31 years and his 3 children.

Survivors

Night Watchman Cranston was survived by his wife of 31 years and his 3 children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-645A4168
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

127 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Night Watchman Cranston served with the Constantine Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Constantine community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Constantine Police Department

Location Constantine, MI

Platform Identity cpd.stjoseph.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 11, 1899

Age 54

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender One Captured

Night Watchman Edgar A. Cranston 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Constantine Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% 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. Edgar A. Cranston'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 Edgar A. Cranston Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

One Captured

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edgar A. Cranston is highlighted in Aug.

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. Edgar A. Cranston was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518