Roll of Honor
Richard David Clarke
Incident
Border Patrol Inspector Richard Clarke was stabbed to death while transporting an illegal alien in El Paso, Texas. Inspector Clarke and his partner had arrested the man for entering the United States illegally. They were transporting him to the Immigration Service headquarters in El Paso along Stanton Street. As they approached 7th Avenue the prisoner suddenly produced a knife and stabbed Inspector Clarke in the heart from the back seat. The man then grabbed the other inspector's duty weapon. The other inspector, who had been driving the vehicle, then struggled with the suspect in the backseat and held him until other officers arrived. Inspector Clarke was able to exit the vehicle but collapsed on the street. The suspect was charged with murder. On February 7, 1951, he was ruled insane and committed to a mental institution in Springfield where he died in 1954. Inspector Clarke had served with the United States Border Patrol for one year. He was survived by his wife. He was buried in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-7C05E750- 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
You barely got started.
Border Patrol Inspector Clarke gave the United States Department of Justice 1 year.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Border Patrol Inspector Clarke.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Border Patrol Inspector Richard David Clarke 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 Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol, 15 of 68 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 22.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard David Clarke's cause is highlighted.
How Richard David Clarke Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard David Clarke is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard David Clarke was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
67 officers from United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
