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Chris Edward Clites
Agency patch
Police Officer

Chris Edward Clites

Columbus Division of Police — Columbus, OH
Felonious
United States flag Ohio flag
End of Watch December 10, 1993
Age 26
Tour of Duty 3 yrs 7 mo
Badge 1493
The Vigil Panel 139 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Police Officer Chris Clites was shot in the head and killed as he and his partner attempted to stop fleeing robbery suspects at the Windsor Terrace public housing complex. In the early morning hours of December 10th, 1993, Officer Clites and his partner responded to a call for assistance from another officer who had reported suspects fleeing on foot from a routine traffic stop in a high crime area. Officer Clites had joined two other officers searching for the suspects when he was confronted by one of the armed perpetrators. He shot the suspect once in the lower chest, and the suspect fell to his knees but was able to return fire first, striking Officer Clites in the right elbow causing him to drop his duty pistol. As Officer Clites bent over to retrieve his pistol, he was struck in the face by the suspect's last gunshot. Officer Clites died later that day at The Ohio State University Medical Center with his family by his side. As a fellow officer attempted to locate Officer Clites, he heard Officer Clites give voice commands and then gunshots. As the fellow officer cornered a building, he witnessed Officer Clites fall from the last gunshot. The suspect then attempted to pick up Officer Clites duty pistol, but the Officer fired at the suspect, who was shot several times and died at the scene. It was later discovered that the fleeing individuals had been on a crime spree, including home invasion robberies, robbing a convenience store, and numerous individuals on the street. In addition, the suspects had extensive criminal histories and were driving a stolen vehicle. Officer Clites had served with the Columbus Division of Police for three and a half years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Clites gave the Columbus Division of Police 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Clites.

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

Agency

Department Columbus Division of Police
Type Other
Location Columbus, Franklin County, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.franklin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 10, 1993
Tour of Duty 3 yrs 7 mo
Age 26
Badge Number 1493
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Chris is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1993, 101 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 51st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Chris was 26. 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. Chris had served 3.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Columbus Division of Police has 59 officers remembered here, Chris among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Chris Edward Clites

Columbus Division of Police · End of Watch December 10, 1993

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 9-E

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