Roll of Honor
Biography
Alan Dean Clow – was my husband, co-parent, and best friend for 32 years. He was a servant of the people his entire life. He started his young career as an MP in the US Army. He went to college and earned his AA degree and then joined the San Diego County Sheriff’s office as a deputy. He was only there a short time as he did not like working the “jail” duty shift. He left to join Coronado PD as an officer. ADC found he was a bit more independent in his thoughts and decided to become a Private Investigator, which led him to join the Orange County Public Defender’s Office in CA (where he remained for the next 23 years). He loved his job serving the “under-dogs” and ensuring that justice was complete for every defendant he was involved with. Aside from that full-time job, he became active in the local union and upon his death had been the VP of OCEA for several years. He was proud of that accomplishment and often commented on helping the 18,000 employees be treated with fairness. Another side passion was Veterans. He was part of the founding committee for the Annual Veteran’s event that took place at the fairgrounds on Veterans day and provided free services and entertainment to all Veterans. He was big on trying to get a Veterans Cemetery in Orange County as well, that fight continues today. For his family life, he was our leader. He was incredibly funny and always there to help any of us “out of trouble”. He shared that with friends, their children, and anyone who called upon him. He was an avid sports fan (Chargers, Padres, Lakers, Ducks); loved going to the river, riding the motorcycle; skiing; but mostly engaging with family and friends any time he could. He was smart, charming, good-looking, and loyal. We love and miss him each day that passes. I continue his legacy as being a woman of service and honoring who he was while on this earth. He left behind a wife, two sons, and two dogs. His decision forever changed all of us.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-9FE2F3D2- 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
Officer Alan Clow served with the Orange County Public Defenders Office.
Thank you for your service, and for your service before it. We will always remember your sacrifice.
You belong on this wall. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Alan Dean Clow served in the Army (1975â1978) before joining law enforcement.
Alan Dean Clow is one of 256 officers honored for deaths connected to the weight of the job across the full record of this memorial — 0.8% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In ON, 1 of 334 officers were honored for deaths connected to the weight of the job — 0.3% of this state's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Suicide compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alan Dean Clow's cause is highlighted.
How Alan Dean Clow Compares
When Suicide Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Suicide deaths across the full memorial record. Alan Dean Clow is highlighted in Feb.