Robert Danforth Clark
Correctional Officer I

Robert Danforth Clark

Felonious
End of Watch October 1, 2023
Age 42
Tour of Duty 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 181 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Correctional Officer I Robert Clark died after being assaulted by an inmate with a homemade weapon at the Smith State Prison.

He was escorting two prisoners from the dining hall when one of them attacked him from behind with the weapon. The second prisoner attempted to stop the attack but was also assaulted and injured before the attacker was subdued. Officer Clark and the wounded inmate were both transported to a local hospital where Officer Clark succumbed to his wounds.

The inmate who attacked him, who was already serving a life sentence for murder, was charged with Officer Clark's murder.

Officer Clark had served with the Georgia Department of Corrections for only six months.

Survivors

He is survived by his mother, two brothers, four sisters, six nephews, and nine nieces.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-88DD5E98
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.
Correctional Officer I Clark served with the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Georgia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer I Clark.

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

Agency

Location Atlanta, GA
Platform Identity gdcorr.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 1, 2023
Tour of Duty 6 mo
Age 42
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Assault
Weapon Person
Offender Charged with murder

Correctional Officer I Robert Danforth 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Georgia Dept. of Corrections, 16 of 38 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.1% of this agency's fallen.

Georgia Dept. of Corrections
16
of 38 officers
42.1% Felonious
GA — Statewide
548
of 903 officers
60.7% 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. Robert Danforth 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 Robert Danforth Clark Compares

Age at End of Watch
42
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Charged with murder

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Danforth Clark is highlighted in Oct.

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. Robert Danforth Clark was killed by person.

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

Incident Location