Bret Robert Clodfelter

Oregon State Police — Salem, OR

Felonious

End of Watch September 30, 1992

Age 34

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 138 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 30

Incident

Trooper Bret Clodfelter was shot and killed while he was transporting a suspected drunk driver to jail near Klamath Falls. Trooper Clodfelter had conducted a traffic stop of a suspected drunk driver at 12:30 a.m. He had handcuffed the driver and placed him in the back seat of his patrol car. Trooper Clodfelter offered to drive two passengers of the vehicle to their residence located nearby. Dispatchers were unable to raise Trooper Clodfelter on the radio after he advised them of the arrest and transport. Backup officers were sent to check on him. His patrol car was located four blocks away from the original traffic stop. All three suspects were missing, and Trooper Clodfelter was found in the driver’s seat. He had been shot four times in the head. A massive manhunt ensued to capture the three suspects. On October 2, 1992, tips led the police to the shooter, who was found hiding in a barn near the crime scene. The suspect had a history of assault and drug arrests. The suspect was convicted of murder and given life in prison without the possibility of parole. It was realized after his incarceration that the suspect had been in the United States illegally and had been removed to Mexico in December 1991. He returned to the U.S. and killed a Trooper Clodfelter less than 10 months later. Trooper Clodfelter had served with the Oregon State Police for 8 years. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter. Trooper Clodfelter’s wife, who was a sheriff's deputy, took her own life one year after his murder.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OR-6A6E3913
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.
Trooper Clodfelter gave the Oregon State Police 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oregon. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Clodfelter.

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

Agency

Department Oregon State Police

Location Salem, OR

Platform Identity osp.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 30, 1992

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life in prison

Trooper Bret Robert Clodfelter 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 OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 4.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Oregon State Police, 16 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.6% of this agency's fallen.

Oregon State Police

of 31 officers

51.6% Felonious

OR — Statewide

115

of 197 officers

58.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious