Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Gene Clifton died as a result of a gunshot wound received on October 1, 1971. Officer Clifton was fatally wounded during a joint operation with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and the Palo Alto Police Department. A team of officers were attempting to execute a search warrant at a residence. The officers were already inside the residence when a suspect fired shots at the officers and ran into a bedroom. Officer Clifton was standing outside the bedroom when the suspect continued shooting, and a bullet went through the wall and struck him in the abdomen. Another Palo Alto officer shot and seriously wounded the suspect. The autopsy report listed the cause of death as undetermined, so the suspect, 36, was not charged with murder. On April 27, 1972, he was convicted of four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, a felon in possession of a firearm, and sentenced to 6 to 15 years. Officer Clifton had served with the Palo Alto Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-70E4F51D- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Clifton gave the Palo Alto Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Palo Alto community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Clifton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Gene A. Clifton is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Palo Alto Police Dept., 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gene A. Clifton's cause is highlighted.
How Gene A. Clifton Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 15 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gene A. Clifton is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gene A. Clifton was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Palo Alto Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
