Don “Rich” Clawson is a Sergeant with the Utah Transit Authority Police Department, having previously worked with the Riverdale City, Weber County Sheriff’s Office, Harrisville City , and North Ogden City Police Departments before retiring from Salt Lake City Police Department and joining us at UTAPD. During his 28-year career in Law Enforcement, Sgt. Clawson served as a DARE and school resource officer, K9 officer and tactical operator. In 2005 Sgt. Clawson served as a security contractor training police officers in Afghanistan.
In May 2022 Sgt. Clawson was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and had half of his tongue and numerous lymph nodes removed. The medical team rebuilt his tongue with a portion of his forearm. Since 2022, Sgt. Clawson has been fighting cancer and has undergone two additional surgeries and multiple Chemo and radiation treatments. During all of this he has reported for duty, supported his agency, and provided excellent service to citizens that utilize the transit system throughout Utah. Sgt. Clawson has always maintained a positive attitude and is an inspiration to those he works with. With the support of his wonderful wife Glenda and their children, Sgt. Clawson did not let his diagnosis define or limit him. Throughout it all he continued to train and mentor his fellow officers earning a promotion to Sergeant in January 2024.
On April 12, 2024, Sgt. Clawson learned that his treatments were not working and that future treatments would be unsuccessful. His medical team has given him one to six months to live. Sgt. Clawson has asked for nothing from his co-workers, has never complained or made excuses. He has handled this with a level of dignity and honor that cannot be adequately described. The officers of the Utah Transit Authority and officers from his previous agencies are banding together to try and raise enough money to send Sgt. Clawson and his family on one last amazing vacation.
Cause Details
Medical
Don “Rich” Clawson is a Sergeant with the Utah Transit Authority Police Department, having previously worked with the Riverdale City,...
Don “Rich” Clawson is a Sergeant with the Utah Transit Authority Police Department, having previously worked with the Riverdale City, Weber County Sheriff’s Office, Harrisville City , and North Ogden City Police Departments before retiring from Salt Lake City Police Department and joining us at UTAPD. During his 28-year career in Law Enforcement, Sgt. Clawson served as a DARE and school resource officer, K9 officer and tactical operator. In 2005 Sgt. Clawson served as a security contractor training police officers in Afghanistan.
In May 2022 Sgt. Clawson was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and had half of his tongue and numerous lymph nodes removed. The medical team rebuilt his tongue with a portion of his forearm. Since 2022, Sgt. Clawson has been fighting cancer and has undergone two additional surgeries and multiple Chemo and radiation treatments. During all of this he has reported for duty, supported his agency, and provided excellent service to citizens that utilize the transit system throughout Utah. Sgt. Clawson has always maintained a positive attitude and is an inspiration to those he works with. With the support of his wonderful wife Glenda and their children, Sgt. Clawson did not let his diagnosis define or limit him. Throughout it all he continued to train and mentor his fellow officers earning a promotion to Sergeant in January 2024.
On April 12, 2024, Sgt. Clawson learned that his treatments were not working and that future treatments would be unsuccessful. His medical team has given him one to six months to live. Sgt. Clawson has asked for nothing from his co-workers, has never complained or made excuses. He has handled this with a level of dignity and honor that cannot be adequately described. The officers of the Utah Transit Authority and officers from his previous agencies are banding together to try and raise enough money to send Sgt. Clawson and his family on one last amazing vacation.
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