Off-duty officer killed

PARK HILLS — An off-duty law enforcement officer died in a motorcycle accident Saturday while participating in a Relay For Life fundraiser.

Sheriff Dan Bullock said Joe Crump worked for him as a detective sergeant for nine years. Before that, he worked for the Missouri State Highway Patrol for 18 years. He had also worked for Bonne Terre Police and as an investigator for an insurance company.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident was reported at 5:18 p.m. Saturday. Crump, 56, of Farmington, was driving a 2006 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail south on U.S. 67 near Parkway Drive when he changed lanes and traveled off the roadway. He overcorrected, causing the motorcycle to overturn. He was taken to St. Louis University Hospital and died the next day.

At the time of the crash, he was participating in the Probation and Parole Slammers Poker Run to benefit St. Francois County Relay For Life. He and his wife were organizers of the event.

His wife, Shelly, works for Probation and Parole and his 8-year-old daughter, Allison, is a cancer survivor. A close friend, Gary Stevenson, had also died of cancer, Bullock said, and Crump had been active in Relay For Life since its beginning.

Funeral arrangements are pending and are being handled by Cozean Funeral Home in Farmington.

Crump worked on major cases including the Lewis murders. He had done undercover investigations and drug-related investigations, in addition to murder cases.

At the time of his death, he was leading the investigation into the murder of Peggy Miller.

Bullock said Crump was a great source of information for him, not just with criminal cases but in other matters, as well. He said they were born and raised down the street from each other.

“He was a really good friend,” Bullock said.

He said Crump has a lot of friends in law enforcement, across the state, and he will be missed. He also has a brother, Jamie, and nephews, Donnie and Jasen, who are in law enforcement, as well.

Alan Wells, director of St. Francois County 911, and Crump were close and described him as a “good, dear friend.” Wells said Crump was full of life and brought enjoyment to everyone around him.

“He lived life to the fullest,” Wells said. “He was an excellent law enforcement officer.”

Ron Bockenkamp, who recently retired from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, said Crump was a loyal friend you could count on at any place or time. He said Crump had a reputation and respect in the law enforcement community from the federal to the local level.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.