Prev
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Olney Crawford was killed when he was struck by a drunk driver at the intersection of Summer Avenue and Perkins Road.
He and another deputy were investigating a previous accident when an intoxicated wrecker driver sped through the scene and struck Deputy Crawford. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The driver was charged with manslaughter.
Deputy Crawford had served with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqjtra861jtpwd44526g- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Olney. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Crawford gave the Shelby County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Crawford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Shelby County Sheriff's Office has lost 21 officers; 13 of them killed feloniously.
Olney is one of 498 officers killed feloniously in TN, 64.8% of the 769 remembered there.
Olney is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Olney is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1946, 1 officer at Shelby County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1904, with 2.
In 1946, 4 officers in TN were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1931, with 12.
In 1946, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1946, 93 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 67th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Olney was 49. Of the 12 killed feloniously at Shelby County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 31.8 and 50.5; the middle age was 42.5. Olney had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 4.6 years.
Olney was 49. Of the 449 killed feloniously in TN whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 50; the middle age was 41. Olney had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Olney was 49. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Olney had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Olney was 49. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Olney had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 15.4% of these deaths at Shelby County Sheriff's Office; July holds the most, 30.8%. Sundays: 7.7%.
March holds 8.2% of these deaths in TN; December holds the most, 10.2%. Sundays: 15.5%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 61.9% of all 21 deaths at Shelby County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 64.8% of all 769 deaths in TN, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Shelby County Sheriff's Office has 21 officers remembered here, Olney among them.
-
Houston Mitchell Jul 11, 1904
-
Thomas J. McDermott Jul 12, 1904
-
W. H. Lucy
Feb 25, 1910
-
James C. Nelson Oct 29, 1917
-
George Taylor Reeves
Nov 30, 1920
-
Fielding F. Applebury
Dec 17, 1920
-
Charles C. Wortham
Oct 7, 1925
-
Edward William Stelling
Jul 5, 1945
-
Olney Benton Crawford
Mar 24, 1946
-
Deadrick A. Taylor
Apr 19, 1996
-
Sherry Hopper Goodman
Jul 26, 1996
-
Rupert Holliday Peete, Jr.
Mar 8, 2000
-
George Monroe Selby
Dec 4, 2002
-
Timothy Howard Dunn
Oct 29, 2004
-
Ronald L. Ray
Dec 17, 2013
-
Jeremy Devaughn Smith
Apr 21, 2020
-
Anthony Terrance Jackson, Sr.
Dec 25, 2020
-
Willie Lois Dortch
Apr 9, 2021
-
Ray William McCrary, Jr.
Jul 20, 2021
-
Lakiesha Lashay Tucker
Aug 25, 2021
-
Bridgette Lachelle Hunter
Feb 17, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
20 officers from Shelby County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
