Eugene Crum

Walter "Eugene" Crum, a graduate of Burch High School, began his career in law enforcement as a correction officer for four years before serving with the Matewan and Delbarton Police Departments in Mingo County, West Virginia.

[5] As a sign of dedication to Mingo County and to his passion in law enforcement, Crum would eat his lunch in his official cruiser every day, just to observe a pill mill that had been shut down a few years before to make sure it did not open again.

Judge Thornbury was later sentenced to four years in prison for a corruption scheme involving a defendant who had information about Crums illegal prescription use and campaign contribution violations.

[9] Crum was shot at point blank range while sitting in his official vehicle in a parking lot, while he was eating his lunch, at the corner of Third Avenue and Harvey Street on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, in Williamson, West Virginia, shortly after noon.

[5] Tennis Melvin Maynard, age 37, of Ragland, West Virginia, walked up to the sheriff's SUV and at point blank range, allegedly shot Crum in the forehead and temple region, killing him instantly.

[5] After killing Crum, Maynard fled from the scene travelling south on U.S. 52 toward Delbarton, where he was shot and seriously wounded by Mingo County Sheriff's Department Corporal Norman Mines, after pulling a gun on him.

[12][13] Rosie Crum, his widow, was unanimously appointed to fill the remainder of the term left vacant by her husband's tragic death by the three members of the county commission, and was sworn into office by Circuit Judge Michael Thorsbury during the candlelight vigil held on April 4, 2013, at 8 p.m., next to the courthouse in Williamson.

[12] Tennis Melvin Maynard, the man accused of shooting and killing Crum, was known to be mentally disturbed, but has never claimed or shown signs of having a vendetta against law enforcement.

[3] Over 500 law enforcement officials were in attendance from all across the USA including Alaska, California, Mississippi and Texas, and 273 police cruisers participated in the funeral procession as a show of respect.