Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Lieutenant

Christopher Neal Claypool

Columbus Division of Police — Columbus, OH

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch April 29, 2001

Age 39

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

The Vigil Panel 148 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 58

Incident

Lieutenant Christopher Claypool was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while at the scene of another accident at Refugee Road near the intersection of Eastland Mall at 12:30 am.

As he walked across the intersection with his flashlight to check on one of the victims of the initial accident, he was struck by the suspected drunk driver, who then fled the scene.

A tip led to the suspect's arrest six months later. Since there was no evidence that the suspect was drinking or that he meant to hit Lieutenant Claypool, he was only convicted of hit-and-run and sentenced to one year. The incident led the Ohio legislature to change the penalty from one year to 5 years if a death resulted from a hit-and-run.

Lieutenant Claypool had served with the Columbus Division of Police for 13 years. He is survived by his wife and two children. He was three days shy of his 40th birthday.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-09C9B6E1
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Christopher. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Christopher is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lieutenant Claypool gave the Columbus Division of Police 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Claypool.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Columbus Division of Police

Type Other

Location Columbus, OH

Platform Identity cdpd.franklin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 29, 2001

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Vehicular assault

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Military Service

Christopher Neal Claypool served in the U.S. Army (1979â1980) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Lieutenant Christopher Neal Claypool is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Columbus Division of Police, 36 of 59 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61% of this agency's fallen.

Columbus Division of Police

of 59 officers

61% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious