Robert M. Clifton

Joplin Police Department — Joplin, MO

Felonious

End of Watch December 5, 1967

Age 34

Tour of Duty 6 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 103 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 20

Incident

Patrolman Bob Clifton was shot and killed when he and another officer stopped a vehicle for a routine inspection at 2803 S. Main Street. The vehicle was occupied by four men and a juvenile girl who had just robbed and beaten a grocery store operator in Bowie, Texas, several hours earlier. Patrolman Clifton observed their vehicle exit I-44 and stop at a restaurant before driving into the southern part of the city. He stopped the car and had ordered the occupants to exit after he grew suspicious of them. The driver pulled a gun opened fire on Patrolman Clifton, fatally wounding him. Another officer who was pulling up to the scene returned fire and fatally wounded the subject. The other four occupants were returned to authorities in Texas to face robbery charges. Patrolman Clifton had served with the Joplin Police Department for 6-1/2 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-6A95A291
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 Clifton gave the Joplin Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Joplin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Clifton.

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

Agency

Department Joplin Police Department

Location Joplin, MO

Platform Identity jpd.jasper.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 5, 1967

Tour of Duty 6 yrs 6 mo

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .45 caliber

Offender Shot and killed

Patrolman Robert M. Clifton 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Joplin Police Department, 17 of 21 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 81% of this agency's fallen.

Joplin Police Department

of 21 officers

81% Felonious

MO — Statewide

516

of 813 officers

63.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious