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
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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.
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

Type Federal 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

Investigator Melvin John Clark 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

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 1,418 officers
53.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% 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
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Melvin John Clark Compares

Age at Death
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

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
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
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.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location