John Walter Clements

Gainesville Police Department — Gainesville, TX

Felonious

End of Watch July 24, 1931

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 62 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Officer John Clements and Officer William Johns were shot and killed by a man whom they had arrested a few days earlier and confiscated a shotgun. The suspect was released and attempted to have his shotgun returned but Officer Johns refused. The suspect located the two officers on East California Street and shot both of them with another shotgun. Officer Johns managed to return fire seriously wounding the suspect. The suspect was convicted of Officer Clements' murder and sentenced to 99 years. He was pardoned by Governor James V. Allred August 26, 1937. Officer Clements is survived by his son and second wife. He is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Gainsville, Texas.

Survivors

Officer Clements is survived by his son and second wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-8853EA17
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.
Officer Clements served with the Gainesville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Gainesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Clements.

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

Agency

Department Gainesville Police Department

Location Gainesville, TX

Platform Identity gpd.cooke.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 24, 1931

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Pardoned in 1937

Officer John Walter Clements 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Gainesville Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Gainesville Police Department

of 4 officers

50% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious