Patrolman

Clay V. Helms

Fresno Police Department — Fresno, CA
Accident
End of Watch May 15, 1911
Age 28
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Clay Helms succumbed to injuries sustained four months earlier in a Sante Fe Railroad train derailment near Herndon, California.

He was escorting a mental patient to the Stockton State Hospital when the train they were riding in collided with a three-car work train and derailed. Patrolman Helms suffered several internal injuries causing his health to deteriorate until his death.

Patrolman Helms had served with the Fresno Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqk02x1v6jxpwn41545c
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Clay. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Helms gave the Fresno Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fresno community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Helms.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Fresno, Fresno County, CA
Platform Identity frespd.fresno.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 15, 1911
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Clay is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

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

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1911, 29 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 115th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Clay was 28. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Clay had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Fresno Police Department has 15 officers remembered here, Clay among them.

VI

Where

Patrolman Clay V. Helms

Fresno Police Department · End of Watch May 15, 1911

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-W

↑