Services set for Clouse
Funeral services for Cameron Police Officer Josh Clouse are set for Wednesday, May 17. Clouse died protecting and serving his community on May 11.
Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton. Burial will be in the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen at a later date. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 16, 2023, from 5-8 p.m. at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron.
Clouse, a Police Sergeant for the Cameron Police Department, was born on Fort Hood on June 27, 1983. He graduated from Waxahachie High School in 2001. He then enlisted in the U. S. Army and was honorably discharged in 2005.
He leaves behind, his wife Stephanie Nicole Fortner and two sons, Jonathon Clouse and Jordan Clouse.
He worked at the Milam County Sheriff's Department for several years and then for Cameron Small Engines before going to work for the Cameron Police Department.
He was a member of Harvest Bible Church in Rockdale where he served as a Deacon and Pre-teen Minister, along with being a part of the Church Security Team.
Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to The Josh Clouse Memorial Fund at Citizens National Bank Cameron.
The 100 Club of Central Texas activated its Survivor Fund Thursday. Donations can also be mailed to The Club’s office at 3200 Steck Ave., Suite 240, Austin, Texas 78757. The agency can accept donations by phone by calling 512-345-3200; or by texting “100clubcentex” to 44321.
The 39-year-old officer was killed May 11 in the 700 block of East Seventh Street in Cameron during a warrant service.
The Cameron Police Department, Milam County Sheriff’s Office, Rockdale Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety were serving a warrant following a 911 call of a victim shot in the back of the neck by the victim’s spouse.
Milam County Sheriff Mike Clore said the suspect opened fire on law enforcement personnel resulting in gunfire between officers and the suspect. The suspect was mortally wounded along with Clouse.
Clouse was transported to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect was shot and killed at the home. He was identified as Albert Rafael Acosta, 29, of Cameron.
“Josh died doing what he loved by protecting and serving the community,” the Clouse family said in a statement released Friday. “The outpouring of love and support from our community and from across the state has touched our hearts deeply. He has given us the peace that passes all understanding even though we lost a true hero. We know that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength and we will overcome. In being true to Josh’s memory and the amazing man of God he was, we would like to take this moment to let everyone know that if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please reach out to Bred Dusenberry of Harvest Bib Church in Rockdale, his cell phone will be with Cameron Police Department.”
To honor Clouse, the Cameron Police Department parked the patrol unit of the fallen officer in front of the police station at 605 W. Fourth St. The community is urged to place flowers at the site.