Howard M. Crumley

Oklahoma Highway Patrol — Oklahoma City, OK

Felonious

End of Watch June 28, 1970

Age 34

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Badge 250

The Vigil Panel 107 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 38

Incident

Trooper Howard Crumley was shot and killed with his own service revolver while making a traffic stop of a speeding car. Unbeknownst to Trooper Crumley, the two brothers who were in the car had just murdered another man before being pulled over. As Trooper Crumley searched one of the suspects on the hood of his patrol car the second suspect confronted him with a weapon and disarmed him of his service revolver. One of the suspects then shot him and the two fled. The suspects abducted a couple a short time later and began to drive around the area. After releasing the male hostage they forced the female hostage to continue driving. At some point one of the brothers committed suicide and the other brother forced the woman to drive him to a hospital. After leaving the hospital the pair were followed by a security guard. When the suspect went into the home of another brother the security guard contacted the female and then contacted police, who arrested the man at the location. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was denied parole in December 2014 and again in December 2017. Trooper Crumley had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-A28DA96E
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.
Trooper Crumley gave the Oklahoma Highway Patrol 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Crumley.

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

Agency

Department Oklahoma Highway Patrol

Location Oklahoma City, OK

Platform Identity ohp.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 28, 1970

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 34

Badge Number 250

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Committed suicide

Trooper Howard M. Crumley 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 19 of 39 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.7% of this agency's fallen.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol

of 39 officers

48.7% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious