Perry Critchell
Sergeant

Perry Critchell

MI State Police — Lansing, MI
Accident
End of Watch March 20, 1954
Age 43
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
The Vigil Panel 90 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Perry Critchell was killed in an automobile crash when another vehicle ran a stop sign on U.S. Highway 27 (present-day Old U.S. 27). Sergeant Critchell and the Gogebic County Sheriff were returning from Lansing when a vehicle turned in front of them. Sergeant Crtchell was unable to stop. Sergeant Critchell died instantly. The Sheriff and driver of the other vehicle were taken to a hospital in Grayling with serious injuries. Sergeant Critchell had served with the Michigan State Police for 20 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, four brothers, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

20 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Critchell gave the Michigan State Police 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of Michigan. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Critchell.

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

Agency

Department MI State Police
Type State Police
Location Lansing, Ingham County, MI
Platform Identity msp.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 20, 1954
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 43
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Perry is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1954, 69 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 51st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Perry was 43. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Perry had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

MI State Police has 57 officers remembered here, Perry among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Sergeant Perry Critchell

MI State Police · End of Watch March 20, 1954

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 26-E

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