Roll of Honor
Incident
Night Patrolman Slaton was shot and killed as he and another officer attempted to arrest a man for carrying a pistol. The suspect, and an acquaintance, had agreed to leave town because they were both drunk. After riding a short distance they both turned around and returned to a hitching post.
Upon learning that the men returned, and that one of them was armed, Patrolman Slaton and the other officer went to the hitching post to arrest them. When the officers told the man he was under arrest he immediately pulled a pistol from his overcoat pocket and opened fired. Patrolman Slaton returned fire and both men were fatally wounded.
Patrolman Slaton had served as a Night Patrolman for 3 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-A22FB912- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Night Patrolman Slaton gave the Madisonville Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Madisonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Patrolman Slaton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Night Patrolman Clifton Hopkins Slaton is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Madisonville 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. Clifton Hopkins Slaton's cause is highlighted.
How Clifton Hopkins Slaton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clifton Hopkins Slaton is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clifton Hopkins Slaton was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Madisonville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
