Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Clarence Upson was killed while attempting to prevent a man from driving drunk at South Street and Harding Way East in Galion.
A man had been drinking and was getting into his vehicle at 12:00 pm when Patrolman Upson approached him, telling him not to drive. An argument ensued and the subject struck Patrolman Upson. He fell and hit his head on the pavement.
The subject, 26, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to one to 20 years in Mansfield Reformatory on September 30, 1940.
Patrolman Upson was an Ohio National Guard veteran who had served with the Galion Police Department for 15 years and had previously served as a merchant policeman.
Patrolman Upson was an Ohio National Guard veteran who had served with the Galion Police Department for 15 years and had previously served as a merchant policeman.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sons, and five grandchildren. He was survived by his wife, three sons, and five grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-85A84AF6- 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 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.
Patrolman Upson gave the Galion Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Galion community. Thank you 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
Clarence Holton Upson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Clarence Holton Upson 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clarence Holton Upson's cause is highlighted.
How Clarence Holton Upson Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 1 to 20 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clarence Holton Upson is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clarence Holton Upson was killed by person.