State, Local Leaders Pay Tribute To Fallen Officer Kennis Croom

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The electric blue lights on the intermodal parking deck in downtown Tuscaloosa Friday night were pleasing to eye against a dark and cloudy skyline. But they were likely easy to overlook for most of the hundreds of revelers gathered in nearby Government Plaza for the city's free summer concert series.

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By order of Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, the facade of Tuscaloosa City Hall was also shrouded in blue, with the LED lights casting a soft azure glow over the passing cars on University Boulevard.

The City of Tuscaloosa, the rest of the area and much of the states of Alabama and Mississippi are in mourning for the loss of true public servant and hero following the death 31-year-old Mississippi police officer Kennis Croom.

Croom, a Tuscaloosa native and the son of a former Alabama football player, was shot and killed in the line of duty Thursday evening as he responded to a call in Meridian where the suspect had also just killed his pregnant fiancée.

The suspect was eventually apprehended and taken into custody without incident Friday morning at a gas station in Ackerman, Mississippi. As Patch previously reported, 31-year-old Dante Bender was placed in Croom's handcuffs when he was finally located after a search lasting nearly a full day.

"Mississippi has lost another hero," said Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves on Friday. "Yesterday, Officer Kennis Croom made the ultimate sacrifice while answering the call to protect a fellow Mississippian. Officer Croom and his brave actions will never be forgotten."

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey also offered up her respects to the state of Mississippi and Croom's family.

"His impact reached across state lines, and he will always remain rooted with us," she said on Twitter in response to Reeves. "You’re correct in saying his heroism will not be forgotten."

Apart from his service in Mississippi, Croom had vast connections in the law enforcement community in his hometown and also served in the police departments for the cities of Eutaw and Vance.

"A career law enforcement officer at only 31 years old, officer Croom died a hero in the line of duty, serving and protecting the City of Meridian yesterday evening," Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said in a Facebook post Friday that mentioned Croom's connections to the city. "Chief [Brent] Blankley and I have asked our staff to treat officer Croom's funeral the same way that we would the passing of a Tuscaloosa Police Officer. We will also be lighting City buildings blue in his honor starting [Friday] at sundown."

On the other side of the Black Warrior River, Northport Mayor Bobby Herndon also voiced his condolences to the Croom family after receiving the news.

Indeed, numerous law enforcement agencies and municipalities from Tuscaloosa County and around west Alabama could be seen as part of the procession that made its way down the final leg of the journey on Watermelon Road toward Northport Funeral and Cremation just before 7 p.m. Friday evening.

The beginning of the escort featured half a dozen motorcycle officers, followed by vehicles representing nearly every state and local law enforcement agency in the region.

Demopolis, Marengo County, Northport, Vance, the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and others. Many vehicles were unmarked, with the one transporting Croom's remains not visibly distinguished from the others in the escort.

As Patch previously reported, Kennis Croom is the son of former Alabama football player Kelvin Croom and longtime Tuscaloosa City Clerk Tracy Croom. He is also the nephew of Mississippi State University football coach Sylvester Croom and the brother of Tuscaloosa County EMA Deputy Director Tamara Croom.

Funeral arrangements for Croom had not been announced as of the publication of this story Friday night.

In lieu of flowers, the Croom family is asking for donations to The Croom Foundation as a way to honor the memory of the fallen officer. You can donate by clicking here.

The Croom Foundation, according to its mission statement, was "created to make a difference in high crime, disadvantaged areas of West Alabama," with the nonprofit focusing on youth and teens.

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