Clifford Drietzler
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Clifford Drietzler

Felonious
End of Watch November 5, 1941
The Vigil Panel 78 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Drietzler was shot and killed with his own weapon service revolver while checking on a suspicious car that had been parked on the side of McGill Highway all day. The occupant of the car surprised Deputy Drietzler and was able to gain control of his revolver. He made the deputy walk to a nearby pipeline and shot him once in the back of the head. The suspect fled to San Diego, California, where he was apprehended a few days later. The man was convicted of Deputy Drietzler's murder. He was paroled from prison 20 years later.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NV-7F217665
Stewardship
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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Drietzler served with the White Pine County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Ely community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Drietzler.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Ely, White Pine County, NV
Platform Identity wpcso.whitepine.nv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 5, 1941
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Deputy Sheriff Clifford Drietzler 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 NV, 82 of 146 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56.2% of this state's fallen. That is 56.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At White Pine County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

White Pine County Sheriff's Office
2
of 3 officers
66.7% Felonious
NV — Statewide
82
of 146 officers
56.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clifford Drietzler's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Clifford Drietzler Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clifford Drietzler is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clifford Drietzler was killed by officer's handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from White Pine County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.