Border Patrol Agent John Robert McCravey

Border Patrol Agent John Robert McCravey

United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government

End of Watch Monday, February 23, 1987

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John Robert McCravey

Border Patrol Agent John McCravey succumbed to injuries sustained in an automobile crash three days earlier while chasing a vehicle suspected of transporting smuggled aliens around 7:00 a.m.

The vehicle he was chasing caused dust to be kicked up, possibly blocking Agent McCravey's visibility. His patrol car overturned and became submerged in the All-American Canal near Calexico, California. Fellow officers and citizens helped free Agent McCravey and the three prisoners he had in his patrol car from the vehicle.

He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries three days later.

Agent McCravey was a United States Army Vietnam War and Hawaii Air National Guard veteran and had served with the United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol for one year. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, mother, father, two brothers, and a sister.

Bio

Age 36
Tour 1 year
Badge Not available
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Vehicle pursuit
Location California
Incident Date Friday, February 20, 1987
Weapon Not available
Offender Not available

illegal alien, vehicle pursuit, single vehicle crash

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Most Recent Reflection

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On Feb 20, 1987, I was a trainee BPA at the Calexico Station when agents reported a vehicle leaving the area of a crossing of the All American Canal east of Calexico. I listened as agents got behind the vehicle and an FTY occurred heading back the canal crossing. I'm sure Agent McCravey intended to be of assistance once a stop was made, but his vehicle slammed into the canal. I arrived before Paramedics did, and I will always remember the sight of Border Patrol Agents performing CPR on Agent McCravey and the detainee; everyone wet, cold, dirty and muddy working as hard as they could to save their lives on the side of the canal bank. For Police Memorial Week, 2025, I will ride into the National Police Memorial with BPA John McCravey's photo on my bike, and I will honor Agent McCravey's service to his country and to the US Border Patrol.

SBPA Steve Houston
US Border Patrol, retired

February 11, 2025