Christopher McCrudden Remembered For Positive, Giving Nature

Clarkstown Police Officer Thomas Ronan knew Police Officer Christopher McCrudden wasn’t one to talk about the day’s major news stories, but said McCrudden could talk about much else, and if there’s one thing he knew about conversations with McCrudden, it’s how they would end.

“No matter what we’d talk about, we’d always end up laughing,” Ronan said. “He was extremely good natured, always laughing and smiling. I don’t think I ever saw him in a bad mood.”

Ronan knew McCrudden, of Pearl River, for the last 15 years, which he recounted fondly Friday afternoon at McCrudden’s wake. McCrudden, 50, died Monday of complications from a recent illness.

Ronan didn’t work too often on the same shift with McCrudden, as McCrudden worked the midnight shift during his duration on the force. Still, even on separate shifts, Ronan and McCrudden would see each other as one’s shift was about to start while the other’s was ending.

“He was just pleasant,” Ronan said. “He was a great police officer too.”

Many who came out to honor McCrudden on Friday at Sorce Funeral Home in West Nyack remembered McCrudden similarly to Ronan, as both a solid police officer and in a perpetual good mood. Many also expressed condolences and well wishes for the McCrudden family, who lost Christopher McCrudden’s younger brother, .

“The two of them together never seemed to stop laughing and joking around,” Ronan said. “They were both great. It’s a big loss for not only their family, but for the department. They were two great police officers and fun to be around. To lose two guys of that character, two guys like that, it’s a tremendous loss.”

Even those outside of the department heard only positive things about McCrudden.

“He was very well regarded, very well thought of within the department,” said Clarkstown Councilman George Hoehmann. “He was a cop’s cop. He loved his job and he did it well. He worked hard [and] had a good record in the department.”

Others who spoke about McCrudden on Friday remembered him as giving, as well as a big New York Rangers fan. He was also a bagpiper with the Rockland County Police Emerald Society Pipes & Drums. He was also known for donating his time for funerals, parades and weddings.

“Chris was a dedicated officer that I would see around every now and then,” said State Sen. David Carlucci. “He worked hard to keep the public safe and even gave up his spare time to help with other events to ensure they would be safe as well. He’ll be missed. It’s incredibly unfortunate that both he and his brother were taken from us so young.”

McCrudden’s funeral will be Saturday 9:45 a.m. at St. Augustine Church in New City with burial at St. Anthony's Cemetery in Nanuet.