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Officer Sidney Clarence Crews | Miami Police Department, Florida
Miami Police Department, Florida

Officer

Sidney Clarence Crews

Miami Police Department, Florida

End of Watch: Thursday, April 25, 1929

Biographical Info

Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: 7

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 24, 1929
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed

Officer Sidney Crews succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained the previous day when he was shot by an inmate with his own service revolver inside the city jail.

He and another officer had entered a cell block in order to kill rats with air rifles after inmates complained about a rat infestation. One of the wounded rats ran underneath a table and, as Officer Crews bent down to pick it up, an inmate grabbed his service revolver and started shooting.

One bullet shattered Officer Crews' right arm and a second bullet struck his hip. A detective who was in another section of the jail shot and killed the inmate.

Officer Crews had served with the Miami Police Department for eight years and was assigned to the city jail. He was survived by his wife and seven children.