Chris Edward Clites

Columbus Division of Police — Columbus, OH

Felonious

End of Watch December 10, 1993

Age 26

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 7 mo

Badge 1493

The Vigil Panel 139 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 58

Incident

Police Officer Chris Clites was shot in the head and killed as he and his partner attempted to stop fleeing robbery suspects at the Windsor Terrace public housing complex. In the early morning hours of December 10th, 1993, Officer Clites and his partner responded to a call for assistance from another officer who had reported suspects fleeing on foot from a routine traffic stop in a high crime area. Officer Clites had joined two other officers searching for the suspects when he was confronted by one of the armed perpetrators. He shot the suspect once in the lower chest, and the suspect fell to his knees but was able to return fire first, striking Officer Clites in the right elbow causing him to drop his duty pistol. As Officer Clites bent over to retrieve his pistol, he was struck in the face by the suspect's last gunshot. Officer Clites died later that day at The Ohio State University Medical Center with his family by his side. As a fellow officer attempted to locate Officer Clites, he heard Officer Clites give voice commands and then gunshots. As the fellow officer cornered a building, he witnessed Officer Clites fall from the last gunshot. The suspect then attempted to pick up Officer Clites duty pistol, but the Officer fired at the suspect, who was shot several times and died at the scene. It was later discovered that the fleeing individuals had been on a crime spree, including home invasion robberies, robbing a convenience store, and numerous individuals on the street. In addition, the suspects had extensive criminal histories and were driving a stolen vehicle. Officer Clites had served with the Columbus Division of Police for three and a half years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-5FB96533
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.
Police Officer Clites gave the Columbus Division of Police 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Clites.

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

Agency

Department Columbus Division of Police

Location Columbus, OH

Platform Identity cdpd.franklin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 10, 1993

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 7 mo

Age 26

Badge Number 1493

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Police Officer Chris Edward Clites 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Columbus Division of Police, 36 of 59 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61% of this agency's fallen.

Columbus Division of Police

of 59 officers

61% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious