Roll of Honor
Incident
Town Marshal James Crocker was shot and killed while speaking with a citizen in front of the local Chevrolet dealership on Court Avenue in the downtown area of the town. The occupants of a passing car opened fire on him with a shotgun. Marshal Crocker was struck in the back of the head and killed instantly. The owner of the dealership was struck in the leg and wounded. It was believed that he was shot in retaliation for fatally shooting the son of a moonshining ring on a raid several weeks earlier. Marshal Crocker had served with the Selmer Police Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and three daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-14DE283A- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Town Marshal Crocker gave the Selmer Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Selmer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Marshal Crocker.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Town Marshal James Franklin Crocker 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Franklin Crocker's cause is highlighted.
How James Franklin Crocker Compares
Offender Outcome
Never apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Franklin Crocker is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Franklin Crocker was killed by shotgun.