Reserve Police Officer Jerry J. Crocker

Jerry J. Crocker

Reserve Patrol Officer Jerry Crocker and Patrol Officer Terry Lewis were killed on when their patrol car was struck by a drunk driver who was driving a flatbed utility truck.

The 21-year-old driver of the truck and a friend had just left Baby Dolls topless bar on Farm Road 157 when they decided to turn around and go back. Just before the crash a woman called 911 and reported the driver was operating his vehicle in a reckless manner. An investigation revealed that the driver was going more than 65 mph in a 45 mph zone on North Collins Street when he slid more than 100 feet and broadsided the officer's patrol car. His blood alcohol level was 0.21. He was convicted of intoxicated manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison.

Officer Crocker is survived by his wife and three children. He had just decided to take a position as a full time officer. Officer Crocker was an engineer with the state highway department and would be taking a $500 per week pay cut and forfeit his retirement when he left his job. He said he had to make his childhood dream come true.