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Incident
Alan Dean Clow was born on June 16, 1956, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He served three years in the U.S. Army as a military policeman and was honorably discharged. He went on to six years in law enforcement as a deputy with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and an officer with the Coronado Police Department, then worked as a private investigator. For some 22 years he was an investigator with the Orange County Public Defender in Santa Ana, and he served as vice president of the Orange County Employees Association. He died on February 21, 2018, in Lake Forest, California, at the age of 61, and was laid to rest with full military honors at Riverside National Cemetery on March 14, 2018.
Survivors
His wife of 32 years, Serafina; his sons, Jonathan and Jordan.
Biography
Alan Dean Clow – was my husband, co-parent, and best friend for 32 years. He was a servant of the people his entire life. He started his young career as an MP in the US Army. He went to college and earned his AA degree and then joined the San Diego County Sheriff’s office as a deputy. He was only there a short time as he did not like working the “jail” duty shift. He left to join Coronado PD as an officer. ADC found he was a bit more independent in his thoughts and decided to become a Private Investigator, which led him to join the Orange County Public Defender’s Office in CA (where he remained for the next 23 years). He loved his job serving the “under-dogs” and ensuring that justice was complete for every defendant he was involved with. Aside from that full-time job, he became active in the local union and upon his death had been the VP of OCEA for several years. He was proud of that accomplishment and often commented on helping the 18,000 employees be treated with fairness. Another side passion was Veterans. He was part of the founding committee for the Annual Veteran’s event that took place at the fairgrounds on Veterans day and provided free services and entertainment to all Veterans. He was big on trying to get a Veterans Cemetery in Orange County as well, that fight continues today. For his family life, he was our leader. He was incredibly funny and always there to help any of us “out of trouble”. He shared that with friends, their children, and anyone who called upon him. He was an avid sports fan (Chargers, Padres, Lakers, Ducks); loved going to the river, riding the motorcycle; skiing; but mostly engaging with family and friends any time he could. He was smart, charming, good-looking, and loyal. We love and miss him each day that passes. I continue his legacy as being a woman of service and honoring who he was while on this earth. He left behind a wife, two sons, and two dogs. His decision forever changed all of us.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- October 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Alan is one person.
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Tributes
Officer Alan Clow served with the Orange County Public Defenders Office.
Thank you for your service, and for your service before it. We will always remember your sacrifice.
You belong on this wall. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Alan Dean Clow served in the U.S. Army (1975â1978) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Suicide
Alan is the only officer of Orange County Public Defender remembered here.
Alan is one of 18 officers lost to suicide in CA, 1% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Alan is one of 190 officers lost to suicide in the United States, 0.7% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Alan is one of 256 officers lost to suicide worldwide, 0.8% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2018, 4 officers in CA were lost to suicide, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 2019, with 5.
In 2018, 18 officers in the United States were lost to suicide, the 3rd heaviest of 31 years on record. The heaviest was 2019, with 25.
In 2018, 18 officers worldwide were lost to suicide, the 3rd heaviest of 75 years on record. The heaviest was 2019, with 26.
Who
Alan was 61. Of the 15 lost to suicide in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 37 and 51; the middle age was 41.
Alan was 61. Of the 146 lost to suicide in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 36 and 50; the middle age was 43.
Alan was 61. Of the 209 lost to suicide worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 35 and 48; the middle age was 42.
When
February holds 16.7% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 22.2%. Wednesdays: 27.8%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; June holds the most, 12.6%. Wednesdays: 14.2%.
February holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; May holds the most, 11.7%. Wednesdays: 16%.
How
Suicide deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Orange County Public Defender.
Suicide deaths account for 1% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the 5th most common cause.
Suicide deaths account for 0.7% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 5th most common cause.
Suicide deaths account for 0.8% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 6th most common cause.
Military Service
Alan Dean Clow served in the U.S. Army (1975–1978) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Alan Dean Clow’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Laid to Rest
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Orange County Public Defender are honored on badge.nw.