J. Wesley Moore
Agency patch
Police Officer

J. Wesley Moore

Clendenin Police Department — Clendenin, WV
Felonious
End of Watch July 27, 1944
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
The Vigil Panel 80 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Moore was shot and killed with his own service weapon when he attempted to arrest a man for disorderly conduct. The suspect was able to grab Officer Moore's revolver and shot him four times. The suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 5 to 18 years in prison on January 30, 1945. Officer Moore had served with the Clendenin Police Department for one year. He was survived by his three children. Officer Moore's third cousin, Deputy Duran Ratliff, was shot and killed in the line of duty on March 6, 1973, while serving with the Dickenson County Sheriff's Office, Virginia.

Survivors

He was survived by his three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-7F83F8D3
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

You barely got started.
Police Officer Moore gave the Clendenin Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Clendenin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Moore.

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

Agency

Location Clendenin, WV
Platform Identity clenpd.kanawha.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 27, 1944
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun
Offender Sentenced to 18 years

Police Officer J. Wesley Moore 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Clendenin 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.

Clendenin Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
WV — Statewide
169
of 232 officers
72.8% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. J. Wesley Moore's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How J. Wesley Moore Compares

Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 18 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. Wesley Moore is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. J. Wesley Moore was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Clendenin Police Department are honored on badge.nw.