Roll of Honor
Incident
Corporal Clarence McClary was shot and killed in the mountains south of Leesburg, Virginia, while searching for several men, one who had shot and wounded a federal officer the previous day as he and several other officers raided two liquor still operations. He was a member of a posse of federal, state, and Alexandria officers searching for the men. Ten men who were involved in the liquor operation were surrounded and captured. The identity of one of the men who shot the federal officer was determined. Then, it was determined he was the same man who killed Corporal McClary. During questioning, the suspect, age 66, said that he had escaped from a Wisconsin prison camp on August 21, 1932. He had been sentenced to 25 years on June 21, 1922, for second-degree murder after the killing of two fellow moonshiners in Langlade County, Wisconsin. He was convicted of Corporal McClary's murder and sentenced to 20 years. Corporal McClary had served with the Alexandria Police Department for eight years. He was survived by his wife and four children. His brother, Sergeant Charles McClary, had been shot and killed in the line of duty on June 20, 1929, while also serving with the Alexandria Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-3AFE2E22- 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.
Corporal McClary gave the Alexandria Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Alexandria community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal McClary.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corporal Clarence J. McClary 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 VA, 395 of 654 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 Alexandria Police Department, 13 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clarence J. McClary's cause is highlighted.
How Clarence J. McClary Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 20 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clarence J. McClary is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clarence J. McClary was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Alexandria Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
