Officer George W. Crump

George W. Crump was born in Virginia in 1848. In his early years, he worked as a fireman on the Washington and Ohio Railroad. Later he worked for Smoot Lumber and became a member of the Friendship Fire Company. In 1891, he joined the police department.

Officer Crump was described as an ‘efficient and trustworthy’ officer, ‘well-known and liked by everybody.’ He received recognition in April of 1893 for arresting a robber wanted in Prince George’s County.

After 3 a.m. on October 28, 1893, Officer Crump and Officer Gayton Arrington were returning to headquarters after a call for disorderly subjects. They joined a third officer, James McCuen, who was on duty at the police station, then housed at City Hall. They sat around the stove and between 4 and 5 a.m., Officer McCuen dozed off.

Suddenly, Officer McCuen jumped up. Still half-dazed, he drew his pistol and fired it at Officer Crump. The round struck Officer Crump in the left knee. Officer Arrington observed Officer McCuen cocking the pistol again and immediately grabbed his arm and yelled. This woke Officer McCuen, who then realized what he had done. Officer Crump’s wound was tended to and he was driven to his home to recover.

At a mayoral inquiry, Officer McCuen stated he had dreamt a dog was coming at him and explained that he must have fired at the imaginary dog. He was suspended for 30 days for dereliction of duty and falling asleep.

Officer Crump’s injury proved to be very serious and because the round was lodged so deeply in his leg, doctors were unable to remove it. Infection set in and two months later, Officer Crump’s condition became grave. He died at his home just before 10 p.m. on December 28, 1893, at the age of 45. Officer Crump was survived by his wife, Emily, and their five children.

Gravesite:
Bethel Cemetery
Section A, Lot 110
South Payne Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314