Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Emilio Mestas was shot and killed while responding to a disturbance caused by a large group of teenagers. Several subjects had led officers in a vehicle pursuit and led them to a home on Oak Street where approximately 40 teenagers had been causing a problem all night. As several officers got out of their patrol car, one of the teenagers opened fire, striking Sergeant Mestas in the head. He was taken to Northwest Texas Hospital, where he succumbed to his wound the following morning. The suspect was apprehended, convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and sentenced to ten years in jail. Sergeant Mestas was a United States Army WWII veteran and had been with the Clayton Police Department for 13 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and nine children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-84ABAB45- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sergeant Mestas gave the Clayton Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Clayton community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Emilio Mestas served in the U.S. Army (1942â1945) before joining law enforcement.
Sergeant Emilio Mestas 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 NM, 123 of 193 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.7% of this state's fallen. That is 63.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Emilio Mestas's cause is highlighted.
How Emilio Mestas Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Emilio Mestas is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Emilio Mestas was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Emilio Mestas served in the U.S. Army (1942–1945) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Emilio Mestas’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Clayton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.