Tom G. Crabtree started his career of public service as a member of the Raleigh Fire Brigade.  In 1913, he joined the Raleigh Police Department. He was a 31-year-old father in October 1917, by which point he was a detective.  

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On August 31,1922, Detective Crabtree dropping his partner, Jesse Wyatt, off at home when he was flagged down at a gas station by a taxi driver, George Williams.  Williams had been driving 19-year-old Charles "Boots" Kluttz around for hours, at first voluntarily. When Mr. Williams refused to drive Kluttz to Apex, Kluttz threatened him with a gun.  Williams stopped at a gas station on Hillsborough Street to get water for the cab. Mr. Williams said he ran from the cab, and, seeing Crabtree's car, waved to get his attention. Detective Crabtree tried to talk to Kluttz, but as he approached the car, Kluttz shot and wounded.  Crabtree, who was unable to get to his weapon, rolled under the cab.  Kluttz shot at him twice more and then ran over him with the cab.

After attempting to get away on foot and phone relatives for help, Mr. Kluttz turned himself in and blamed the crimes on years of drug and alcohol abuse. He pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.  He was paroled in 1930.

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The residents of Raleigh raising nearly $6,000 for the benefit of Crabtree's widow, Mary, and their four sons --Thomas, Lewis, Fred, and Jack. Detective Crabtree's funeral service, held in City Auditorium, was attended by three thousand people;  the mayor and several City Commissioners served as pall bearers.  He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.