Claude Martin

Arkansas Dept. of Corrections — Pine Bluff, AR

Felonious

End of Watch September 2, 1940

Age 41

Tour of Duty

The Vigil Panel 77 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Trustee Guard Claude Martin was shot and killed during an escape from the Cummins Prison Farm.

The escape had been planned for over a year, and the prisoners enlisted the aid of two trustee guards to help. After finishing lunch, the escapees began quietly disarming the guards. One of the prisoners slashed a guard with a knife, and Guard Martin stepped in to stop the assault. But before he could fire his weapon, he was shot in the chest. Once he fell, another guard shot him in the back.

Thirty-four prisoners and two trustee guards escaped that day. All escapees were recaptured. The escapee who shot Guard Martin was shot and killed after he and five other men killed Posseman Frank Gartman in Louisiana. The Trustee Guard who shot Trustee Guard Martin was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Trustee Guard Martin had only served as a guard for a week.

Survivors

He was survived by two sons and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-33717E5F
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trustee Guard Martin served with the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Arkansas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trustee Guard Martin.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Arkansas Dept. of Corrections

Location Pine Bluff, AR

Platform Identity arkacorr.jefferson.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 2, 1940

Tour of Duty

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Shot and killed and sentenced to life

Trustee Guard Claude Martin 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Arkansas Dept. of Corrections, 4 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.

Arkansas Dept. of Corrections

of 7 officers

57.1% Felonious

AR — Statewide

249

of 372 officers

66.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious