Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Clendon West was shot and killed after he and another deputy went to a mobile home park to verify the address of a man wanted on several warrants. Another deputy was also shot and wounded. The suspect, 31, was apprehended two days later at a city rail station in New York City. The suspect was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on June 20, 1996. As of June 9, 2023, he was of death row. Deputy West is survived by his wife and two sons. In October 2015, Market Street's Neuse River Bridge in Smithfield was renamed Deputy Sheriff Clendon Paul West, Jr. Memorial Bridge and the signs were all posted in June 2016.
Survivors
Deputy West is survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-985872EC- 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.
Deputy Sheriff West gave the Johnston County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Smithfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff West.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Clendon Paul West, Sr. 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 58 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Johnston County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clendon Paul West, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Clendon Paul West, Sr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clendon Paul West, Sr. is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clendon Paul West, Sr. was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Johnston County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
