[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 208 (Wednesday, December 20, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1743]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF OFFICER FREDDIE CRAWFORD

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. CHARLIE CRIST

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 20, 2017

  Mr. CRIST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and public 
service of retired St. Petersburg Police Officer Freddie Crawford, one 
of the ``Courageous 12,'' who put his career and life on the line in 
the fight against discrimination and segregation.
  The Courageous 12 were the first African Americans employed by the 
St. Petersburg Police Department, who bravely served the residents of 
the city for many years. In the face of constant threats in the field 
and discrimination within their department, these 12 officers withstood 
both professional and physical risk to keep the peace and ensure 
equality and justice in their communities.
  In the early 1960s, Officer Crawford and his fellow black police 
officers serving on St. Petersburg's police force were only permitted 
to police black neighborhoods. The segregation of authority even went 
so far as to mark patrol cars with a `C' for ``colored'' to designate 
that it was a black officer inside. Officer Crawford and his colleagues 
attempted to express their grievances to the Chief of Police on 
multiple occasions, only to be ignored and swept aside. After 
persevering through years of segregation in both his civilian and 
professional life, Officer Crawford and his colleagues in the 
Courageous 12 took their fight to the judicial system. Despite the 
personal and professional risk, Officer Crawford and his fellow 
officers sued the city of St. Petersburg in 1965.
  Baker vs. the City of St. Petersburg did not initially receive a 
favorable ruling for the Courageous 12. But in 1968, a federal appeals 
court overturned the decision. In one year's time, Officer Crawford was 
patrolling a primarily white area in North-East St. Petersburg. The 
monumental efforts by Officer Crawford and his colleagues would inspire 
black officers in nearby areas, creating a domino effect of positive 
change in communities throughout the Tampa Bay region.
  Even after retiring from the St. Petersburg Police Department, 
Freddie Crawford continued his efforts to address and eradicate 
segregation. He went to work for the Community Relations Services 
division at the U.S. Department of Justice where he used his experience 
with conflict resolution to resolve racial tensions in various 
communities across the country.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me once again in commemorating Officer 
Freddie Crawford's life, and thanking him for his contribution to the 
cause of justice. He leaves behind a legacy of tireless dedication to 
equality and serves as an inspiration to the city of St. Petersburg and 
to our country.

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