Memorial Honors Clearwater's Fallen Officers

The Clearwater Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 10 and Clearwater Police hosted the 31st annual Clearwater Police Officer Memorial Service Friday at Station Square Park downtown. 

The memorial honored Clearwater’s four fallen officers: Harry L. Conyers (1967), Peter M. Price (1969), John F. Passer (1970) and Ronald J. Mahony (1977).

Conyers, the first Clearwater officer killed in the line of duty, was responding to a call on a 1964 Harley Davidson when he was involved in a crash near Gulf to Bay Boulevard and Saturn Avenue. Conyers died at 3:45 p.m. Jan. 22, 1967, according to Clearwater Police.

Price was involved in a motorcycle crash near Drew Street and Northeast Coachman Road while responding to a call at 1:35 p.m. Feb. 12, 1969, according to the Clearwater Police memorial page. An oncoming car turned left in front of his 1967 Harley Davidson. Officer Passer helped investigate the incident.

Passer, 24, joined Clearwater Police in 1967 and just over a year later had been commended for heroism twice, according to police. He asked for, and received, motorcycle duty in 1968. During a call, he pulled alongside a suspect vehicle to conduct a traffic stop near South Greenwood Avenue and Lotus Path. The driver turned left striking Passer who died of head injuries at 6 p.m. July, 12, 1970, according to Clearwater Police.

Mahony joined the force as a cadet on his 21st birthday. Within six months he would be taking his own patrol. During a stop on Memorial Causeway, a suspect attempted to flee in a stolen truck which overturned, killing Mahony who died at 11:35 p.m. July 13, 1977, according to the Clearwater Police memorial page.