Roll of Honor
Clarence Larkin
Incident
Warden Clarence Larkin and Officer Harry Martin were stabbed to death during a prison escape attempt at Folsom State Prison. Approximately 40 inmates had been waiting to talk to Warden Larkin concerning upcoming parole hearings when seven of the inmates suddenly attacked him. As they took him into the yard, other guards started firing. In the commotion that followed, Officer Martin and Warden Larkin were both stabbed to death. Officer Martin died at the scene, and Warden Larkin died of his wounds five days later. One of the seven inmates who attempted to escape was wanted for the murder of Officer James Hill, of the Marlow, Oklahoma, Police Department, on April 20th, 1931. Two of the escaping attempts were shot and killed during the incident. The remaining five were all sentenced to death and eventually executed. Two suspects, including the one who had murdered Officer Hill, were executed in the gas chamber on December 2nd, 1938. Two others were executed on December 9, 1938, and the leader of the group was executed on December 16th, 1938. Warden Larkin was a California National Guard veteran of WWI who had served as the Folsom Prison Warden for over one year and had served with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for 22 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, stepson, two brothers, and seven sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-BB5C6C85- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Warden Larkin gave the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 23 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Clarence Larkin served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Warden Clarence Larkin is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 30 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clarence Larkin's cause is highlighted.
How Clarence Larkin Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1938
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clarence Larkin is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clarence Larkin was killed by edged weapon; shank.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
41 officers from California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
