DPS, Fallen Hero Reward Program Seeks Leads in Ambush Of Officer in Houston

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is asking for the public’s help in solving the April 13 attempted murder of Harris County Precinct 7 Deputy Constable Alden Clopton in Houston. As part of the Office of the Governor and Texas Crime Stopper’s Fallen Hero Reward – Texas Remembers program, a reward up to $10,000 is being offered for information that results in this case being solved or leads to the arrest of those responsible for the crime. In conjunction with Texas Crime Stoppers, Crime Stoppers of Houston also is offering a reward up to $10,000 through its Fallen Hero Project, said a press release.

According to the release, at approximately 11:17 p.m. on April 13, Clopton was shot several times while assisting a fellow deputy in the 3100 block of Alabama Street in Houston. According to the investigation, an unknown suspect approached Clopton from behind and shot him in the back without warning and then fled the scene on foot. Clopton continues to recover from his injuries.

“The attack on Deputy Alden Clopton is an unconscionable crime that will not be tolerated in Texas. I know local authorities are working tirelessly to ensure justice in this case, and hopefully this reward offering will assist in those efforts,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said. “This crime reminds us that law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to serve and protect our communities, and they deserve our utmost gratitude and respect.”

“We are appalled by the cowardly shooting of Deputy Clopton and consider this an attack on all Texans,” DPS Director Steven McCraw said. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with Deputy Clopton and his family as he continues to recover, and we urge anyone with information related to this ongoing investigation to come forward to help us as we seek justice in this case.”

To be eligible for the cash rewards, anyone with information on the attack of Deputy Constable Clopton can provide anonymous tips in three different ways:

• Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
• Text the letters DPS – followed by your tip – to 274637 (CRIMES) from your cell phone.
• Submit a tip online.

Created in January 2016, the Fallen Hero Reward program is designed to help generate new investigative leads in unresolved or cold cases involving a Texas law enforcement officer or first responder who was murdered or suffered an incapacitating injury while in the line of duty or while acting in an official capacity. The program is funded by the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division and administered by DPS. The Clopton case is the second case to be featured.

For decades, paying rewards to anonymous tipsters has been a proven method in the apprehension of criminals in Texas, and the Fallen Hero Reward program builds on the success of the state’s existing tipster reward programs – the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives and Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders programs.

For any agency that may have an unresolved or cold case that meets the criteria for the Fallen Hero Reward program, please email Texas Crime Stoppers at [email protected].