Incident
Trooper James Crooks was shot and killed while he was involved in a chase of a suspect who had just killed two Tampa detectives, Detectives Randy Bell and Ricky Childers. Trooper Crooks was attempting to stop the suspect, who had just car-jacked another driver, on I-75 just south of State Road 54 in Pasco County when gunfire erupted. Trooper Crooks was struck in the head before exiting his cruiser. The suspect then fled the scene and holed up in a gas station for several hours before committing suicide. Trooper Crooks had served with the Florida Highway Patrol for nine months.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents and fiancee.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Crooks served with the Florida Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of Florida. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Crooks.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Florida Highway Patrol has lost 54 officers; 23 of them killed feloniously.
James is one of 536 officers killed feloniously in FL, 53.2% of the 1,007 remembered there.
James is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
James is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1998, 1 officer at Florida Highway Patrol was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 19 years on record. The heaviest was 1973, with 3.
In 1998, 6 officers in FL were killed feloniously, the 22nd heaviest of 143 years on record. The heaviest was 1987, with 10.
In 1998, 78 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 89th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1998, 80 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 91st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
James was 23. Of the 23 killed feloniously at Florida Highway Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 41.5; the middle age was 34. James had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
James was 23. Of the 496 killed feloniously in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 44.3; the middle age was 36. James had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
James was 23. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. James had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
James was 23. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. James had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 4.3% of these deaths at Florida Highway Patrol; February holds the most, 17.4%. Tuesdays: 26.1%.
May holds 9% of these deaths in FL; April holds the most, 10.1%. Tuesdays: 14.9%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 42.6% of all 54 deaths at Florida Highway Patrol, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 13% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.2% of all 1,007 deaths in FL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 6.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
Florida Highway Patrol has 54 officers remembered here, James among them.
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Luther Paul Daniel
Dec 5, 1941
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Leroy C. Bender
Oct 25, 1947
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Halley C. Strickland
Jan 8, 1954
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Edwin J. Gasque
Oct 26, 1961
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Sherman Lee Scott, Jr.
Jan 3, 1965
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Owen Karl Bender
Sep 9, 1965
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Joseph Newton Sawtell, Jr.
Aug 5, 1966
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Joseph Paul Bertrand
Dec 22, 1967
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John C. Hagerty
Mar 18, 1970
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Herman T. Morris
Mar 16, 1972
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Charles W. Parks
Feb 6, 1973
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Claude H. Baker, Jr.
Nov 17, 1973
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Ronald Gordon Smith
Dec 23, 1973
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Wilburn A. Kelly
Mar 23, 1974
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Charles Eugene Campbell
Nov 16, 1974
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Kenneth E. Flynt
Jan 1, 1976
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Phillip Arthur Black
Feb 20, 1976
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Richard D. Howell
Aug 2, 1976
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Bradley Steven Glascock
Aug 4, 1977
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Elmer C. Barnett
Feb 14, 1978
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Alvin Vincent Kohler
Sep 19, 1978
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Robert Patrick McDermon, Sr.
Apr 11, 1981
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Merle J. Cook
Jul 13, 1981
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Robert Lee Pruitt
Jul 13, 1981
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Cleo Leon Tomlinson Jr.
Jul 13, 1981
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Frederick James Groves Jr.
Sep 18, 1984
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Lindell J. Gibbons
Mar 23, 1985
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John C. Baxter, Jr.
Oct 2, 1985
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Stephen G. Rouse
Mar 28, 1987
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Jeffrey Dale Young
Aug 18, 1987
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Milan Dexter Hendrix
Jun 1, 1989
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Benedict James Thomas
Jun 9, 1989
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James Herbert Fulford, Jr.
Feb 1, 1992
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Kimberly Ann Hurd
Jul 16, 1992
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Saxton Randall Jones
May 1, 1995
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Donald E. Jennings
Jun 30, 1995
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Robert G. Smith
Jul 26, 1997
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James Bradford-Jean Crooks
May 19, 1998
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George A. Brown, III
Apr 27, 2004
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Darryl Louis Haywood, Sr.
Oct 2, 2004
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Nicholas G. Sottile
Jan 12, 2007
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Patrick Ambroise
May 15, 2010
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William Herman Dyer, III
Dec 28, 2011
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Chelsea Renee Richard
May 3, 2014
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William Trampas Bishop
Jun 17, 2017
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Daniel Duane Hinton
Feb 19, 2019
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Tracy Leslie Vickers
Sep 27, 2019
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Joseph Jon Bullock
Feb 5, 2020
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Lazaro Roberto Febles
Aug 14, 2021
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Sean Christopher Hryc
Aug 28, 2021
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Brian John Pingry
Sep 18, 2021
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Zachary Fink
Feb 2, 2024
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Craig Antony Gaines
Sep 19, 2025
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Michael Diego
Feb 18, 2026
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 54-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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