Melvin John Clark
Agency patch
Investigator

Melvin John Clark

Felonious
End of Watch June 17, 1947
Age 41
The Vigil Panel 83 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Investigator Melvin Clark was shot and killed during a raid with federal and state liquor agents at a location near Homer, Georgia. The agents had spread out in preparation for raiding the still. As they approached it a state agent heard several pistol shots and witnessed three men running from Investigator Clark's location. The state agent gave chase but was unable to catch the suspects. When he returned to the scene he learned that Investigator Clark had been shot and killed. The three men, all brothers, eventually turned themselves in. On December 5, 1947, the man, 28, who shot Investigator Clark confessed and was sentenced to life in Atlanta Federal Prison. His two brothers were sentenced to four years each. Two other men who were later found to be with them were sentenced to two years each.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-9D77D4BB
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.
Investigator Clark served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Clark.

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

Agency

Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtirsatufed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 17, 1947
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Sentenced to life

Investigator Melvin John Clark 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit, 12 of 30 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit
12
of 30 officers
40% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,419 officers
53.1% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Melvin John Clark's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Melvin John Clark Compares

Age at End of Watch
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Melvin John Clark is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Melvin John Clark was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location