Incident
Police Officer Clois Lamb was on duty inside of the police station when a suspect entered and opened fire, killing him and wounding a second officer. The suspect fled on foot but was arrested by other officers several blocks away. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life plus 20 years. Officer Lamb had served with the Columbus Police Department for 3-1/2 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Clois is one person.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Lamb gave the Columbus Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Lamb.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Clois Willard Lamb served in the U.S. Army (1964â1975) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Columbus Police Department has lost 26 officers; 19 of them killed feloniously.
Clois is one of 549 officers killed feloniously in GA, 60.7% of the 905 remembered there.
Clois is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Clois is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1989, 1 officer at Columbus Police Department was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 14 years on record. The heaviest was 1896, with 3.
In 1989, 4 officers in GA were killed feloniously, the 42nd heaviest of 149 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 16.
In 1989, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1989, 108 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Clois was 43. Of the 11 killed feloniously at Columbus Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 41; the middle age was 33. Clois had served 3.5 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Clois was 43. Of the 481 killed feloniously in GA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48; the middle age was 38. Clois had served 3.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Clois was 43. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Clois had served 3.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Clois was 43. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Clois had served 3.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 15.8% of these deaths at Columbus Police Department; October holds the most, 21.1%. Tuesdays: 15.8%.
December holds 10.6% of these deaths in GA, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.1%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 73.1% of all 26 deaths at Columbus Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 63.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.7% of all 905 deaths in GA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 19.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Columbus Police Department has 26 officers remembered here, Clois among them.
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Matthew W. Murphy
Dec 26, 1874
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Richard M. Adams Oct 14, 1896
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Charlie J. Roberts Oct 14, 1896
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William Jackson Oct 14, 1896
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N. G. Osborn Jan 31, 1901
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William S. Elliott Mar 27, 1901
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Marion Marchant Apr 17, 1911
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Nelson Harrison Gibson Sep 12, 1915
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Charles B. Harvey May 20, 1920
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James W. Stokes May 22, 1920
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William G. Pate Feb 5, 1921
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Ernest S. Evans Oct 25, 1935
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Harry C. Gibson
Apr 6, 1943
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Sumpter Burns Nov 6, 1946
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Jack E. Boone, Sr.
Feb 15, 1973
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Robert Gray Vining
Apr 21, 1976
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Billy Ray Watson, Sr.
Dec 28, 1976
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James Neal Bowers
Apr 4, 1979
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Thomas M. Bowen
Mar 11, 1984
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Clois Willard Lamb
Dec 12, 1989
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Shirley Denise Winston
Dec 31, 1990
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Sife Perdue
Jan 5, 1994
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Charles Edward Osborne, Jr.
Aug 8, 1994
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Robert Tyrone Kearse, Sr.
May 11, 2006
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Thomas Keith Slay
Jul 30, 2013
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Richard Arnold McMahan
Oct 13, 2021
Military Service
Clois Willard Lamb served in the U.S. Army (1964–1975) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Clois Willard Lamb’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 5-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
25 officers from Columbus Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.











