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Longtime CMPD officer laid to rest Thursday

Anthony "Tony" Crawford joined the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in 1989, serving as one of the city' first bike patrol officers.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The funeral for a retired Charlotte police officer who was found dead in his home earlier this month took place in Uptown Thursday.

Anthony "Tony" Crawford was found dead at his home on June 6. His death is under investigation, according to a police report obtained by WCNC Charlotte. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was asked by Waxhaw, North Carolina, detectives to assist with the investigation, a spokesperson confirmed. No further details were provided by the SBI.

Crawford's funeral took place at 12:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Uptown Charlotte. 

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The 70-year-old joined the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in 1989 and served as one of the city's first bike patrol officers. He retired from CMPD in 2013. He was later re-hired by CMPD and assigned to the airport division. 

“In out of all the 30 years I’ve known Tony, I’ve never heard him once complain,” Chief Johnny Jennings said at the funeral. 

Crawford was also a core member of CMPD's security team for the Charlotte Hornets since the team's founding. 

"Known, trusted and counted on around the Spectrum Center," Chief Johnny Jennings tweeted after Crawford's death. "He will be truly irreplaceable."  

Crawford's son said he was a loving father and a true Renaissance man. 

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