Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Gary Michael was shot and killed during a traffic stop in the area of East Green Street and North 2nd Street at approximately 10:45 p.m.
When Officer Michael stopped the vehicle for a suspected registration violation, the driver exited the vehicle and opened fire with a rifle. Despite being mortally wounded, Officer Michael was able to return fire and wounded the subject.
The man fled the scene in the vehicle and then crashed two blocks away. The subject then fled on foot but was apprehended two days later and charged with first-degree murder. He was found guilty of first-degree murder in July 2023 and sentenced to life without parole in September 2023.
Officer Michael was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Clinton Police Department for less than one year.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, three sons, a daughter, a granddaughter, his mother, two sisters, and a brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-8DC19196- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Gary is one person.
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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.
Police Officer Michael gave the Clinton Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Clinton community. Thank you 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
Gary Lee Michael Jr. served in the U.S. Army (1998â2002) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Gary Lee Michael Jr. 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 97,759 officers honored here.
In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Clinton Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gary Lee Michael Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Gary Lee Michael Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gary Lee Michael Jr. is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gary Lee Michael Jr. was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Military Service
Gary Lee Michael Jr. served in the U.S. Army (1998–2002) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Gary Lee Michael Jr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Clinton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
