Roll of Honor
Francis A. McClelland, Jr.
Incident
Chief of Police Frank McClelland was struck and killed by a vehicle being pursued by other officers shortly after 7:00 pm.
The pursuit had started in Liberty County and continued through Hinesville and into Long County on Highway 84 at speeds topping 100 mph. Chief McClelland was attempting to stop traffic at the intersection of Highway 84 and McDonald Street when the vehicle struck him. The vehicle then left the roadway and fatally struck a motorcyclist at an adjacent gas station before coming to rest.
The fleeing subject was taken into custody at the scene. He was charged with two counts of murder, vehicular homicide, and DUI.
Chief of Police McCllelland was a U.S Air Force veteran of the Vietnam war.
Rest in peace and always know that your service and sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten by your law enforcement brethren.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) September 15th, 2020
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-GA-F7436EE9- Stewardship
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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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Chief of Police McClelland served with the Ludowici Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Ludowici community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Francis A. McClelland, Jr. served in the Air Force (1968â1972) before joining law enforcement.
Chief of Police Francis A. McClelland, Jr. is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In GA, 263 of 903 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.9 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Ludowici Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Francis A. McClelland, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Francis A. McClelland, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Francis A. McClelland, Jr. is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Ludowici Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
