Amarillo College honors fallen police captain with memorial donation

AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — Amarillo College has made a $10,000 donation to the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial in honor of the late Captain Frank Clements of the Amarillo Police.

Captain Clements, who served with the Amarillo College Police Department for 11 years, tragically passed away from a heart attack on May 16, 1985, while directing traffic on campus.

Chris Sharp, Amarillo College's vice president of business affairs, said, "Captain Frank Clements served Amarillo College dutifully and honorably. He protected the citizens of Amarillo, AC students, faculty, and staff. This is a distinctively fitting tribute to him and his family at the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial."

The memorial, a project by the nonprofit Friends of AJ Swope, is nearing the final stages of fundraising and aims to begin construction in 2025.

It will be located in downtown Amarillo at 11th and Polk and will honor law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency services personnel from the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle who have died in the line of duty. This includes first responders from 45 area agencies.

Todd Beckum, president of Friends of AJ Swope and a former Amarillo police officer, expressed gratitude for the college's contribution.

"We are so very grateful for the gift from Amarillo College in honor of Captain Clements, which will assist in making the Texas Panhandle First Responders Memorial a reality," he said. "This Memorial is extremely important as no lasting tribute for all area first responders currently exists in our region."