Former Waxahachie resident dies in line of duty

WAXAHACHIE – Waxahachie native Sgt. Joshua Clouse, 39 with the Cameron Police Department, was killed in the line of duty last week.

Ellis County Sheriff’s Office Explorers extended condolences to the family of Clouse and the Cameron Police Department after the tragedy on May 11.

Clouse was responding to a domestic dispute in which officers had responded to a call involving a gunshot victim.  

Police said the victim alleged she had been shot in the back of the neck by her spouse, identified as 29-year-old Albert Rafael Acosta.  

A search warrant was requested for a different address where the shooting occurred after Cameron PD, Milam County Sheriff’s Office, Rockdale PD and Texas DPS attempted to serve the warrant. 

During the attempt to serve the warrant, Acosta began firing a gun at the police, and the officers returned fire and killed Acosta. Sgt. Clouse was wounded during the gunfight and later died.

The Waxahachie native was an Explorer with the Waxahachie Police Department., which according to Ellis County Sheriff Brad Norman is a group in which 14-to-21 year olds learn about police work. 

Clouse’s work ethic touched the community where he was a public servant, with one man telling a local news station, “His positivity, his work ethic, how he treated everybody around him. He was made for the job; he was made to be a police officer.”

A statement from his immediate family read, “Josh died doing what he loved by protecting and serving the community. 

“The outpouring of love and support from our community and from across the state has touched our hearts deeply. Although our hearts are heavy now, we have such peace knowing that Josh is with his Heavenly Father.” 

Clouse was married with two sons.