Garrett Crumby: Tribute to fallen Huntsville police officer

Today we sadly pay tribute to fallen Huntsville Police Officer Garrett Crumby, a brave man who “died a true hero, in every sense of the word.”

From AL.com staff reports:

One of two Alabama police officers shot when they responded to a shooting call at a Huntsville apartment complex has died.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall identified the slain policeman as Officer Garrett Coulter Crumby, 36. The wounded officer has been identified as Officer Albert Morin, 34.

Crumby’s wife, Taylor, said on Facebook, “Garrett died a true hero, in every sense of the word.”

“He was kind and funny and I in no way ever deserved a man of his character,’’ she wrote.

His mother, Jan Sherman, wrote a Facebook tribute saying it was “the worst day of my life.”

“I feel like I’m in a bad dream. The officers said Garrett was a hero. I know. He always was a hero. I haven’t deserved a son as wonderful as him. We will miss him forever. Please keep our family in your prayers as we navigate the loss of our precious son and brother.”

“This is a devastating loss for our department, the Huntsville community and the State of Alabama, HPD Chief Kirk Giles said. “We send our heartfelt condolences to the officer’s family as they mourn their loved one who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

“As we grieve with our fallen officer’s family, we have another officer fighting for his life,’’ the chief said. “Please keep all our officers and the entire department in your prayers.”

Marshall issued this statement: “Tonight, our State grieves the death of another member of the law enforcement community—one who, when called upon, ran toward danger in aide of a female victim,” said Marshall said. “Huntsville Police Officer Garrett Crumby and fellow Officer Albert Morin were responding to an emergency domestic violence call for service when they were ambushed by an armed suspect.”

Juan Robert Laws, 24, was booked into the Madison County Jail just before 11 p.m. on a charge of capital murder of a law enforcement officer. That charge was obtained by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, which is leading the probe into the deadly shooting.

Laws remains held without bond.

Crumby joined the Huntsville Police Department in 2020. He previously worked for the Tuscaloosa Police Department from 2013 until he left for Huntsville.

Just last year, Crumby was one of several officers praised for helping a man get home from the grocery store on a rainy night. Crumby gave the man a ride.

“It was dark. He was going to be walking down a heavily traveled road at night in inclement weather. So, it just made more sense to me to just give him a ride,” Crumby told WHNT News 19.

Huntsville police released information Wednesday afternoon on how to provide help to the family of slain officer Garrett Crumby as well as injured officer Albert Morin.

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Our hearts and prayers go out to Officer Crumby’s family, friends, Huntsville Police Department colleagues and the entire Huntsville community, as we also pull for Officer Morin’s recovery from injuries.

Rest in peace, Officer Crumby.

This tragedy is a reminder of the potential danger police face every day, and it happens on the heels of the Nashville elementary school shooting where we witnessed a body cam video of officers rushing into gunfire to stop the shooter. The Nashville attack killed 6, including three 9-year-old school children. No law enforcers were harmed in the Nashville shooting.

More related content:

Violent gun culture is our cross to bear – al.com

Texas school shooting: Gunning down schoolchildren is ‘bearable’ in America – al.com

Mass shooting on the Fourth of July: What could be more American? – al.com

Uvalde school shooting video inspired Uvalde Police Department’s new logo – al.com

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JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group and AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix.