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Incident
Patrolman Dale Claxton was shot 18 times and killed after stopping a water truck that had been stolen. He had located the vehicle on County Road 27 and stopped it at the McElmo Creek bridge. Before Patrolman Claxton exited his patrol car one of the three suspects in the vehicle opened fire on him with a fully automatic rifle, shooting him 18 times. The suspects then fled but were pursued by other officers. During an intense gun battle, two deputies from the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office were shot and wounded. The suspects stole another pickup truck before escaping into a canyon-filled portion of the state. The National Guard and over 500 officers from four states assisted in the search for the suspects. One of the suspects was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head in early June 1998 after wounding a San Juan County Sheriff's Office deputy. A second suspect's skeletal remains were found in November 1999. The third suspect's remains were found in Utah in June 2007. Patrolman Claxton had served with the Cortez Police Department for three years. He is survived by his wife, four children, and a granddaughter. He is buried in Cortez Cemetery, Cortez, Montezuma County, Colorado. One of his sons later became a police officer with the Cortez Police Department and the badge number Lobo 11 was retired permanently.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, four children, and a granddaughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Claxton gave the Cortez Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cortez community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Claxton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Cortez Police Department has lost 2 officers; 2 of them killed feloniously.
Dale is one of 236 officers killed feloniously in CO, 65.4% of the 361 remembered there.
Dale is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Dale is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1998, 1 officer in CO was killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 113 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 9.
In 1998, 78 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 89th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1998, 80 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 92nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Dale was 45. Of the 184 killed feloniously in CO whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 39. Dale had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Dale was 45. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Dale had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Dale was 45. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Dale had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 4.7% of these deaths in CO; October holds the most, 11.9%. Fridays: 13.1%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 2 deaths at Cortez Police Department. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 50% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 65.4% of all 361 deaths in CO, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 6.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
Cortez Police Department has 2 officers remembered here, Dale among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 47-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Cortez Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
