Roll of Honor
Incident
Merchant Policeman Charles Clarke was shot and mortally wounded while he and several Seattle Police Department detectives investigated an international gang of Filipinos suspected of extorting local Filipino merchants. He died in a hospital two weeks later.
Policeman Clarke walked up to eleven Filipinos in the lobby of the Alps Hotel lobby at 621 King Street with the intent of questioning one. When that subject walked off toward an elevator he followed and was shot in the back by one of the other ten. The subject he followed turned and shot him twice. Despite being mortally wounded, he was able to return fire critically wounding the gunman who shot him twice. The other ten were arrested in connection with Policeman Clarke's murder. The suspect, 30, who shot him first and responsible for his murder was arrested in Billings, Montana, on December 9, 1936. He was tried for his murder in April of 1937. Outcome unknown.
Policeman Clarke had been laid off from the Seattle Police Department several months before his death but was given a special police commission to keep order in a Chinatown dance hall.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-16F670E8- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Merchant Policeman Clarke served with the Seattle Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Merchant Policeman Clarke.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Merchant Policeman Charles Creighton Clarke is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In WA, 187 of 340 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55% of this state's fallen. That is 55 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Seattle Police Department, 44 of 60 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Creighton Clarke's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Creighton Clarke Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Creighton Clarke is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Creighton Clarke was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
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