James Crawford

James "Jim" Crawford

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and community leader.

James H. Crawford, age 89 of Lino Lakes, MN passed away peacefully on February 8. Jim was born September 30, 1934, in San Bernardino, CA. Preceded in death by his mother Anne, father James and son Tom. He is survived by wife of 67 years: Mary and children; Mary (Steve) Hackett, Laura (Peter) Baxter, Jim (Marilyn), Bill (Dawn), and Deanne (Ross) Middleton and 11 grandchildren; Bryant, Jaylynn, Justin, Ashley, Andrew, Danielle, Dylan, Shaylee, Sam, Alex, Luke.

Jim served our country in the U.S. Marine Corps for three years and then met the love of his life, Mary and married in 1957. He became a passionate career policeman starting in Edina (1956), rising through the ranks from officer to sergeant, raising a growing family. He was honored to serve as the Chief of Police in North St. Paul (1967) and Golden Valley (1975) and then moved on to work for the Department of Corrections as an investigator. He had both a BA and MA in Public Administration and taught corrections at Metro State University. In 1974, Jim founded LEMA, the Law Enforcement Memorial Association, a volunteer organization that supports the survivors of fallen officers. In 2011, he founded MAIPO that benefits injured officers and their families. Since 1977, a monument stands at the St. Paul capital with The Thin Blue Line, where officers from around the state stand guard every May 15 for 24 hours to honor fallen officers. He lived by the philosophy that it is more important to give than receive.

Jim will always be remembered for his dedication to family, career, fellow officers, and community who know him as a leader, friend, teacher and family man with a sharp wit. Jim loved sports, though a frustrated Vikings fan, he is remembered for "batting it out of the park" on several occasions as he did in life.

LEMA organization is honoring Jim with officers in full uniform. Visitation on Thursday Feb 22, 5 to 8pm Bradshaw Funeral Home 4600 Greenhaven Dr, White Bear Lake, MN. Funeral service on Friday Feb 23, 11am (visitation starting at 10am) Incarnation Lutheran Church 4880 Hodgson Rd, Shoreview, MN. Memorials preferred to LEMA at mnlema.org or MAIPO at officerneedshelp.com. Burial at Fort Snelling to follow Monday Feb 26.