Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Crampton was shot and killed with his own weapon while he and Deputy Harold Ewald transported two suspects from one facility to another. During the transport, one of the prisoners began slashing Deputy Crampton with a homemade knife. As Deputy Ewald stopped the vehicle, Deputy Crampton attempted to draw his weapon. The suspect then dived into the front seat, grabbed Deputy Crampton's weapon, and began shooting. Deputy Crampton was killed instantly. The suspect began to flee the scene. Deputy Ewald, who was in plain clothes, pursued him. Deputy Ewald shot the suspect several times. An off duty police officer heard the shots and saw Deputy Ewald pursuing the man with his gun drawn. That officer mistook Deputy Ewald for a suspect and shot him three times. Deputy Ewald was taken to a local hospital where he recovered from his injuries. However, on December 8, 1970, Deputy Ewald suffered a fatal heart attack while on duty at the juvenile detention center. Doctors attributed the heart attack to the stress of being shot and losing his partner. The suspect, now 45, who disappeared, was located in 1978 in a jail in London, England. England officials said he was so dangerous they refused to return him. U.S. officials charted a plane to bring him back at a cost of $15,000. On March 3, 1979, he was convicted of first degree and sentenced to life in prison. As of October 5, 2022, he was still in prison.
Survivors
Deputy Crampton had been with the agency for 12 years and was survived by his wife, son, daughter, and seven grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-F69F26F7- 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 Crampton gave the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Ann Arbor community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Crampton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Frank Crampton 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%.
At Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department, 1 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank Crampton's cause is highlighted.
How Frank Crampton Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank Crampton is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank Crampton was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
