Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Debra Clayton was shot and killed when she encountered a wanted murder suspect in the parking lot of a Walmart at the intersection of Princeton Street and John Young Parkway.
A citizen approached Lieutenant Clayton in the parking lot and informed her that a wanted subject was inside the store. As she walked towards the building the man exited and opened fire on her, striking her multiple times.
The subject was wanted for murdering his pregnant ex-girlfriend and for shooting her brother one month prior. After shooting Lieutenant Clayton, the man carjacked a vehicle and fled the scene. A captain from the Orange County Sheriff's Office spotted the vehicle moments later and was shot at as he got behind it. The subject was captured on January 17th, 2017. The man was convicted of first-degree murder in November 2021 and was subsequently sentenced to death in March 2022.
During the ensuing search Deputy First Class Norman Lewis, of the Orange County Sheriff's Office, was killed in a motorcycle crash at the intersection of Pine Hills Road and Balboa Drive when another vehicle turned in front of his motorcycle.
Lieutenant Clayton had served with the Orlando Police Department for 17 years.
Survivors
She is survived by her husband and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-39061C01- 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.
Lieutenant Clayton gave the Orlando Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Orlando community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Clayton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Debra Lucinda Clayton 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Orlando Police Department, 10 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Debra Lucinda Clayton's cause is highlighted.
How Debra Lucinda Clayton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Debra Lucinda Clayton is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Debra Lucinda Clayton was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Orlando Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
