Last Thursday, the Virginia Tech community was once again rocked with tragedy. This time a police officer became the innocent victim. Officer Deriek W. Crouse, 39 was preforming a routine traffic stop in the Cassell Coliseum parking lot when part-time Radford student Ross Ashley, 22 shot and killed him. Crouse lived in Christiansburg with his wife and five children and stepchildren. An Army veteran and former correctional officer with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Crouse took a job as a patrol officer with Virginia Tech in October 2007. He served as a member of the Virginia Tech Police Emergency Response team and received an award in 2008 for his commitment to the department’s Driving Under the Influence efforts. Praised for his work ethic and professionalism, Crouse also enjoyed the Pittsburgh Steelers, Metallica and clowning around with his children. Crouse’s heartbreaking death inspired a movement that no one imagined would reach such magnitude.

Two Virginia Tech seniors, Bethany Darnley, 22, and Drew Jenkinson, 21 created a campaign called Hokies for Crouse. The effort is aimed towards raising money for the family of the fallen officer. The evening after Crouse’s passing, the account had already reached more than $5,000.  A simple Facebook page became a way to reach out to the community and entire Hokie Nation. Most recently, as of Wednesday, December 14, the pair has raised over $100,000. Additionally, RunAbout Sports will donate the net proceeds from its 9th Annual Frosty 5k on December 24 to Hokies for Crouse. Students can also donate books at the Blacksburg BookHolders, which will present the sale proceeds to the Deriek Crouse Memorial Fund. Please visit the Hokies for Crouse website to donate, volunteer or spread the word.