Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective James Clark was shot and killed as he and his partner were attempting to question a suspected drug dealer. Both officers were on their way to meet with state liquor agents for an undercover operation when they spotted what they suspected was a drug deal in a heavy narcotics area on Madison Avenue in Cleveland. The suspect they stopped to talk to fled into a building and was caught by the officers on the top of a staircase. After the officers found drugs on the suspect, he pushed them both down the staircase and opened fire with a 9 mm handgun. Detective Clark was struck three times in the chest and once in the neck. He had taken his vest off approximately 15 minutes before the incident so that he would not be recognized during the undercover assignment. A third officer who arrived returned fire and shot the suspect six times, killing him. The suspect had been released from custody earlier in the day because of a failed extradition, despite four felony warrants in Florida. Neither of the other two officers were injured. Detective Clark had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for seven years and requested Badge #545 in memory of his great-grandfather, Patrolman George Shearer, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, police officer who was killed in a gun battle on May 12, 1914.
Survivors
Officer Clark is survived by his wife and three young children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-E8451B89- 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.
Detective Clark gave the Cleveland Division of Police 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Clark.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Robert James Clark, II 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cleveland Division of Police, 83 of 119 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert James Clark, II's cause is highlighted.
How Robert James Clark, II Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert James Clark, II is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert James Clark, II was killed by handgun; 9 mm.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
118 officers from Cleveland Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
