Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Dale Claxton was shot 18 times and killed after stopping a water truck that had been stolen. He had located the vehicle on County Road 27 and stopped it at the McElmo Creek bridge. Before Patrolman Claxton exited his patrol car one of the three suspects in the vehicle opened fire on him with a fully automatic rifle, shooting him 18 times. The suspects then fled but were pursued by other officers. During an intense gun battle, two deputies from the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office were shot and wounded. The suspects stole another pickup truck before escaping into a canyon-filled portion of the state. The National Guard and over 500 officers from four states assisted in the search for the suspects. One of the suspects was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head in early June 1998 after wounding a San Juan County Sheriff's Office deputy. A second suspect's skeletal remains were found in November 1999. The third suspect's remains were found in Utah in June 2007. Patrolman Claxton had served with the Cortez Police Department for three years. He is survived by his wife, four children, and a granddaughter. He is buried in Cortez Cemetery, Cortez, Montezuma County, Colorado. One of his sons later became a police officer with the Cortez Police Department and the badge number Lobo 11 was retired permanently.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, four children, and a granddaughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-D57B2F08- 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.
Patrolman Claxton gave the Cortez Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cortez community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Claxton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Dale Dewain Claxton 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 11.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cortez 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dale Dewain Claxton's cause is highlighted.
How Dale Dewain Claxton Compares
Offender Outcome
Deceased
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dale Dewain Claxton is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dale Dewain Claxton was killed by rifle; semi-automatic.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Cortez Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
