From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
HUNTSVILLE — Madison-Morgan County Strategic Counterdrug Team (STAC) Agent Billy Clardy III became the sixth law enforcement officer in Alabama to be killed in the line of duty in 2019 when he was shot down on Friday night.
Clardy was a police officer for the Huntsville Police Department working as a drug agent as part of the HIDTA Gulf Coast Task Force on Dec. 6, 2019. STAC Agents are part of the North Alabama Drug Task Force under HIDTA.
Huntsville Police Agent Billy Clardy III was killed in the line of duty.
During that drug investigation, STAC agents set up a drug buy where a known offender was to drop off a large amount of drugs at a residence on Levert Street, according to a statement released by police. Upon arrival at the residence, Clardy was immediately shot by the offender on the porch.
A short foot pursuit followed with other officers who were on a perimeter. The suspect was eventually captured.
Police said Clardy died as a result of gun shot wounds he suffered outside the scope of his bullet proof vest.
Agent Clardy is survived by his wife and five children. His father, Officer Billy Fred Clardy Jr., was also killed in the line of duty with the Huntsville Police Department on May 3, 1978.
Chief Mark McMurray said Clardy was a highly decorated police officer and he had also earned commendation from the United States military.
Clardy beagn his career working North Huntsville as a patrol officer. He quickly moved to becoming a Community Relations Officer for several years and became a part of the very first HPD Anti-Crime Team and then became a STAC Agent.
Funeral announcements are expected to be announced in the coming days.
