Dwight Crandall, former Sebastopol police chief, dies at age 67

Before he became a Sebastopol police officer, Dwight Crandall was an ordained minister and toured with his brothers in a Christian singing group.

But he also saw police work as a kind of calling and would rise through the ranks of the Sebastopol Police Department to become chief, prior to retiring in 1999 after 27 years on the force.

Crandall, 67, died suddenly Friday of an apparent heart attack.

Crandall was in Calistoga for the afternoon and collapsed in a downtown business area about 3 p.m., said Sebastopol Police Chief Jeff Weaver. First aid and resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.

Crandall had the distinction of being Sebastopol’s first full-time traffic enforcement officer after joining the force in 1973. His position as traffic cop was paid for with a new federal grant, which also furnished a police car and hand-held radar gun.

Crandall would go on to become a sergeant, lieutenant and then chief, serving as head of the department for 10 years and overseeing 14 full-time police officers and eight civilian employees.

He and prior chief Chuck Baker were given credit for working on the design and funding of the current police building, which opened in 1991 and allowed the department to move out of cramped quarters at City Hall.

Weaver said his former boss was a man of true integrity.

“He cared about people,” he said. “He had those traditional sentiments that words matter, you keep your promises.”

Retired Sebastopol Police Lt. Jerry Lites, who worked for 25 years with Crandall, said, “He was very devoted to his family and his community, the police department and also to the Lord. He was a very strong Christian guy.”

Lites, who is a pastor, said as an officer and man of God, “you want to set an example for others to see.”

He said Crandall was a man of his word. “He was honest and trustworthy. When he said something on Friday, it was still true on Monday.”

Lee Crandall, his wife of 43 years, said her husband felt he could help people through police work.

“He loved his job. He loved the department. It was like a big family. He was very proud of all his men, all of his officers,” she said.

The year before he became police chief, Crandall earned a bachelor’s degree in management from St. Mary’s College in Moraga.

Crandall was steeped in Christian faith from an early age. His father, Melvin Crandall of Rohnert Park, is an Assemblies of God minister.

The oldest of seven children, Crandall graduated from high school in Vallejo, followed by Bethany Bible College in Santa Cruz. He was ordained in the same denomination as his father.

Crandall began singing with his sister, but little by little his brothers joined in. They became the Crandall Brothers, touring California churches and meeting halls. The group would go on to tour nationally and even internationally in the years after Dwight Crandall left to pursue police work.

“They’re still a big deal in the Christian music world,” Weaver said.

Crandall kept on with his love of music - especially gospel and classic country - during his years on the police force. He played guitar and his tenor was featured at church services, weddings and funerals.

“He had a beautiful voice,” said his daughter, Terry Lee Crandall of Sebastopol, who joined him in duets.

Besides his wife, daughter and father, Crandall is survived by brothers Leland of Windsor, David of Clovis, and Tim of Los Banos; and sisters Bev McGuire of Oakmont and Carolyn Guerrero of Missouri.

Private graveside services are planned for Saturday at Hessel Church, followed by a public memorial, with a time yet to be determined.