Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

To those who knew Chris and others honouring his memory this day;I extend a toast to his bravery and always running to the fight.

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived".
-George S. Patton

Officer John Holloway
Columbus/Partner

December 10, 2011

Never Forgotten, my Brother!

Officer John Holloway
Columbus/Partner

December 10, 2011

May your family and friend find peace in the fact that you are a HERO!!!! You will never be forgotten!

R Wright
Family of CPD

September 19, 2011

Chris:

Thank you for your devotion to duty. You are still sadly missed by everyone who knew you, and also by the many whose hearts your story has touched. Keep walking your beat up there in heaven and watch out for your brothers and sisters down here. God Bless you and your family

Edward Ryan
Retired CPD 1992

August 23, 2011

hi officer chirs i just wanted to say thank you for your service, i am sad that i never got to met you, i know your mother-in-law and wife, she has remaried but dont worrie he is a great man, so is your wife, both of them are docters,i do wish i did get to meet you, rest in peice

jake caterbury
family

August 11, 2011

In May of 1991 I was a student at the Ohio State University. As a requirement of a Criminal Justice class, I participated in a ride-along with the Columbus Police Department. I was assigned to the district on the far east side (east of Bexely) that included the Windsor Terrace Apartment Complex. I rode the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift on a rainy friday night/saturday morning. In one eight hour shift I learned more about police and policing than any class could ever hope to teach.

I had the priveledge of riding with a young officer who stated he'd been on the road for only about 6 months. We hadn't left the parking lot of the police station and he was given his first call, an abandoned/stolen car. Next was another stolen car; then a domestic violence call; then a report of a break-in at a business; then he picked up and escorted an abused young child who'd fled his home to children's services; then a suspicious vehicle call; then to Windsor Terrace for an assault and battery followed by a run to the E.R. at Grant Hospital with the victim. The calls didn't stop; one after another. As soon as he hit the button on his radio that he was finished with his call, he was immediately given his next. Somewhere in all of this madness was time for a mad dash for an officer needs assistance call and a traffic stop that resulted in his silver S&W 9 mm. being drawn when the non-compliant driver suddenly reached into the pocket of his jacket.

The rookie officer took every call in stride. Some required authority; others compassion; and all were justly served. Underneath his mustache was a smile, a sense of humor and a 24 year old guy who just wanted to talk about his Firebird.

I never forgot that night. I've spoken of it often. Always telling in amazement of what an officer faces in just one shift of the streets of Columbus, Ohio. I never forgot that officer's name....Officer Chris Clites. My heart sank when I searched his name today.

Officer Clites, it was a pleasure riding with you. I learned more in 8 hours than in 4 years of college. May god rest your soul.

Scott DeBonis
Attorney, Youngstown Ohio

August 9, 2011

I only met you twice but remember you almost daily. Just one month before EOW, I was wounded in a shooting. I'll always remember seeing your face as I entered the emergency room at Grant Medical Center. You were one of the first Columbus officers I saw that night. You knew what was important to me and I never had to speak a word. You gathered my family and made sure they were taken care of. You later visited me again while I was in the hospital. I only wish I could have been there for you. Thank you for your dedication and service to your community and your fellow officers. You will never be forgotten.

Former Chief of Police
Buchtel PD, OH

July 17, 2011

I will always remember you backing me up on the street, hearing of your great arrests which you always made sure that we knew about by announcing, "The Eagle Has Landed!" But my favorite memory is the Corvette show we went to. You met me at my house before so we could follow each other in our corvettes. I was amazed as I watched you lift my 3 year old daughter onto your NEW 1993 Corvette and use the hood as a slide....I realized later, that was just the kind of person you were. You showed me what is really important in life. Now that I'm on my 7th Corvette i still think about you and wonder how many you would have had by now.
Thanks for watching over me on many occations on the street. You can rest in peace knowing that thanks to your fellow officers, family and friends, your memory will live for every in our hearts and minds.

Sgt. Greg Hoyle
Columbus Police, Friend

May 16, 2011

Chris, Just wanted you to know that we miss you so much. Cherokee and Jordan said hello and said that they were thinking of you on your Birthday today. It's hard to believe that its almost been 18years since you were taken from us. Thank you for looking over our shoulder during critical incidents on duty. We love you, Happy Birthday!

Officer Bret Bodell #1557
Columbus Div. of Police

May 12, 2011

Hey buddy hope your doing well

Anonymous

March 13, 2011

VOW TO A FALLEN OFFICER
A Policeman will be carried today
passing lines of suits of Blue.
We'll all salute as he's buried
...we'll each die a little, too.
The Stars and Stripes fly at half mast,
bagpipes are playing, lowly.
Mourners brace at attention...
the Honor Guard passes slowly.
Today we stand together
with faces set and grim.
He was one of us
and we were part of him.
As helpless tears roll down our cheeks
it seems there's nothing we can do.
But there is a vow that we can make
and swear it solemnly to you.
You did not go gently into the Night
and died an honorable death.
Just know that we will continue the fight
...as long as one of us...draws breath.
Det. Jenny Keeley, Heath PD, Oh.1993
Rest in Peace Officer Clites.

Jenny Keeley
Former Det., Heath PD, Oh

February 17, 2011

Chris,

I never had the opportunity to know you but have heard many others talk of the great person you were. God bless you for the time you served and the ultimate sacrifice you made. You may be gone but you will never be forgotten.

Fellow CPD

February 7, 2011

Chris it is hard to believe it has been that long ago. I remember the night it happened. I had just left the area where this happened a few hours earlier, working special duty. I know that you are looking over each and everyone of us on the Columbus Division of Police.

Martin Malone
Columbus Division of Police

January 19, 2011

I will always remember his smile and sense of humor...Chris was a good man. C.

Anonymous

January 15, 2011

Wow to think i was just thirteen years old and in the 6th grade when mom came to school and told me what had happened to you chris. I remember we couldn't find donald anywhere because he couldn't except what happened. I miss you very much and when i go visit my family that is barried where you are i always stop and say hey =). I find myself thinking about you Kevin and donald when i eat a TV dinner or even when were thinking of a drinking game I say let's play quarters because i remember all you guys playing that all the time. I love you chris and even being all grown up i remember all these memories with you. Love you and miss you chris.

Jennifer Golden (brooks)
Close friend

January 7, 2011

Hello Chris,

You are so special to us. This many years later and yet the memories are alive and very bright. I still wonder why and this circumstance breaks my heart. I will still talk and come to visit you and Cam, this I am not allowing to ever change. I along with many others wish that God had given us more time together. Thank you for being the kind and loving brother that you are. We enjoyed so many good times and are grateful for these. Hope is a word with true meaning that gives you the will to keep on.

Until our family reunites with you in Heaven, Merry Christmas love and miss you very much

Anonymous

December 12, 2010

The Death of Chris was very hard on a lot of people. Before Chris was police officer he was part of a close group of guys. We were all very close. Some of these friends were friends since childhood. Chris was a great guy. He had just got married and bought his Corvette. We were all happy for him. When Chris died it was like someone killed a part of us. Shortly after Chris was buried a handful of his close friends went to his grave to mourn and talk about Chris. That evening we brought his favorite drink (Bartles and james I think) we shared a farewell toast to Chris and we left the bottles as a tribute to him and all our love. It was not vandalization. it was love. To this day I think of my lost friend.
With Respect
Anonymous

Anonymous
friend

December 11, 2010

I remember the day this happened. My ex-husband is a police officer and he came home and told me a Columbus police office had been killed, then he told me who it was. I was stunned and saddened at the loss of such a great person. The kindness and the smile you emitted while we were in high school, was reflected in the sheer number of people that attended your funeral. I remember crying for your family, crying for the loss of a friend, and crying because the world lost such a fantastic person and a great police officer. I have thought of you often with a smile, especially with the reconnection of so many high school friends through facebook, we miss you and wish you were there to join us. Keep looking down on us with your big heart and your wonderful smile, and we will remember you with a smile and a tear.

Danielle (Riggleman) Hughes
Friend

December 11, 2010

Chris you are not forgotten! On behalf of the men and woman of FOP Capital City Lodge 9 we will always remember your actions! God Bless your family....

President Jim Gilbert
Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge 9

December 10, 2010

Thinking about you today as always on this anniversary of you becoming an angel.

MaryAnn Perkins

December 10, 2010

Never forgotten.

My heart goes out to all of those who still love and miss you.

Constable Pandolfi
York Regional Police Department, Ontario

December 10, 2010

17 years! Always remembered, my brother!

For the record...the ODMP incorrectly states his grave was vanalized...no one actually defaced or damaged Chris's grave (this would not of been tolerated and they would of been found). Get this the media reported it incorrectly! Somebody was leaving items on the site that were concidered strange and gave the family pause.

Officer John Holloway
Partner/Friend

December 10, 2010

Chris, just wanted to say hello and to tell you that I miss you very much brother. 17years ago today you were taken from us and to be honest; it has been very hard not having you around. Sometimes I reflect back on that cold December morning, the rain was at a drizzel but felt so cold on my face. I will never forget where your battle took place; and I will never forget what type of courage it took in you to engage those robbery suspect[s] that early morning. I have thanked God many times that John was close enough and was able to do the outstanding job that he did. I know that you are looking over our shoulder, I've heard your voice time an again, thanks for the warning signs during a few critical incidents, I promise to pay you back when I see you again. Your brothers and sisters of the Columbus Division of Police will continue to carry the Blue Torch in your honor; in protecting the citizens of Columbus, Ohio. #1557

B.Bodell #1557
CPD Brother

December 10, 2010

For no reason at all you will come to my mind. You were one of the best friends I've had. Late night talks about nothing at all. I was not in Columbus when you passed, which I think is a good thing. God has promised that I will see you again. Doesn't take away the pain much though. I miss you.

Kim

Anonymous

July 23, 2010

officer clites hope your doing well god bless

Anonymous

June 24, 2010