Harry Clester

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA

Felonious

End of Watch December 6, 1921

Age 29

The Vigil Panel 42 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 239

Incident

Policeman Harry Clester and Policeman W. Brett were shot and killed while transporting six subjects to the police station. The two officers had stopped a car containing the six men and decided to take them to the station for further questioning. One officer drove the suspects' car while the other officer followed behind them. During the drive the suspects shot the officer driving their car. When the other officer stopped the police car to see what happened he was shot too. Five suspects were apprehended 12 days later and the sixth committed suicide after being tracked to the desert and surrounded. Two of the suspects that were apprehended were hung at San Quentin Prison on April 21, 1924.

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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.
Policeman Clester served with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Clester.

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

Agency

Department Los Angeles Police Department

Location Los Angeles, CA

Platform Identity lapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 6, 1921

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1924

Policeman Harry Clester 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 Los Angeles Police Department, 115 of 240 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.9% of this agency's fallen.

Los Angeles Police Department

115

of 240 officers

47.9% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious