Roll of Honor
Clarence Elmo James
Incident
Deputy Constable James was shot and killed while attempting to trap and arrest a robbery suspect who had robbed several couples in the area of the Lakewood Country Club.
He and a female acquaintance were sitting on a bench when he spotted a man crawling through a fence, and suddenly trotting towards them. A shootout followed in which Deputy Constable James was struck in the abdomen and mortally wounded. In his dying statement, he stated that the man started firing without saying a word.
Blood evidence indicated the killer was also wounded. No one was ever identified as the killer. Deputy Constable James died the next day.
Deputy Constable James was survived by his wife, three children, his parents, a sister, and three brothers. He was buried in the Grove Hill Cemetery in Dallas.
Survivors
Deputy Constable James was survived by his wife, three children, his parents, a sister, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-B4F6F2C0- 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.
Deputy Constable James served with the Dallas County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Dallas community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Constable James.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Constable Clarence Elmo James 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Dallas County Constable's Office - Precinct 1, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clarence Elmo James's cause is highlighted.
How Clarence Elmo James Compares
Offender Outcome
Never apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clarence Elmo James is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clarence Elmo James was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Dallas County Constable's Office - Precinct 1 are honored on badge.nw.
