The shock of the Huntsville Police Department losing one of its own is being felt throughout the state and particularly in Tuscaloosa.

Officer Garrett Crumby died Tuesday afternoon after he was shot in the line of duty. Crumby and his partner were responding to a shooting incident. The other policeman was also shot and remains hospitalized.

Officer Crumby graduated from Hillcrest High School in 2004, became a volunteer firefighter, and then started his law enforcement career with the Tuscaloosa Police Department in November 2013.

“What stood out the most was his passion for the job he loved. He loved the people around him and he had a deep heart and concern for their well-being and their personal safety,” said pastor Hank Atchison.

Tuscaloosa City Council President Kip Tyner got the message Tuesday night from Garrett Crumby’s own mother.

“Hard to believe. Very dear friends with his mother, close friends. We were just talking to him in her office not long ago about how worried every day of her life about how bad things had gotten with police departments, not just here but all over,” said Tyner.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7u7PRZ6WerF%2Bau3DDyKSgaJ%2BRp7%2BmwNNmmqutnZfGbq%2FArqqeZZ%2BbeqWxwK2faA%3D%3D