David Calvin Crandall
Agency patch
Policeman

David Calvin Crandall

Capital Police District — Albany, NY
Felonious
End of Watch April 18, 1868
Age 40
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 3 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman David Crandall was shot and killed after interrupting a burglary in progress.

Policeman Crandall was walking his beat in the Town of Albia when he noticed that a store was being burglarized. After listening to the burglars talk inside, Policeman Crandall determined that there were too many suspects for him to confront alone, so be began to run to down the street to an open mill to get assistance. As he did, he was spotted by an accomplice of the burglars, who fired a revolver at Policeman Crandell, striking him in the head.

Policeman Crandall was an original member of the Capital Police District which was formed in 1865 and had served there for three years. He had previously served as a deputy sheriff in Albany County.

Policeman Crandall was walking his beat in the Town of Albia when he noticed that a store was being burglarized. After listening to the burglars talk inside, Policeman Crandall determined that there were too many suspects for him to confront alone, so be began to run to down the street to an open mill to get assistance. As he did, he was spotted by an accomplice of the burglars, who fired a revolver at Policeman Crandell, striking him in the head.

Policeman Crandall was an original member of the Capital Police District which was formed in 1865 and had served there for three years. He had previously served as a deputy sheriff in Albany County.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-D2B48CBF
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

158 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Policeman Crandall gave the Capital Police District 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Location Albany, NY
Platform Identity cpdpd.albany.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 18, 1868
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Policeman David Calvin Crandall 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Capital Police District
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
NY — Statewide
754
of 2,147 officers
35.1% 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. David Calvin Crandall'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 David Calvin Crandall Compares

Age at End of Watch
40
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Calvin Crandall is highlighted in Apr.

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. David Calvin Crandall was killed by handgun; revolver.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518