May 13, 2009 - Black Hawk City Marshal Robert A. Clark’s name added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C....read more

May 13, 2009 was a special day for the community of Black Hawk. Leaders of Black Hawk, who are proud of Black Hawk’s history, recently discovered that Black Hawk’s first City Marshal was killed in the line of duty almost 140 years ago. Black Hawk Police Chief Stephen Cole and his staff uncovered the history of City Marshal Robert Clark’s life and ultimately his murder. They gathered enough information to get Marshal Clark’s name added to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial located in Washington D.C. The Black Hawk Board of Alderman recognized its first and only fallen officer on the same day Marshal Clark’s name was formally being added to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington D.C. During the Council meeting, Mayor David Spellman read the same resolution originally read at a special council meeting held on July 12, 1869, a day after City Marshal Clark’s murder. Mayor Spellman then presented a plaque commemorating the event to Police Chief Stephen Cole and set aside May 13, 2009 and every year after, as Black Hawk Police Recognition Day. “The City of Black Hawk is honored to recognize its police department and especially proud to have Black Hawk City Marshal Robert Clark’s name added to the National Memorial,” said Mayor Spellman.

Robert A. Clark’s name will become the earliest line-of-duty death for a Colorado law enforcement officer listed on the national memorial in Washington D.C. Prior to Clark’s name being added, Constable Charles Faber of the Bent County Sheriff’s Department (death 12-22-1876) was the earliest line-of-duty death listed for Colorado. “The men and women of the Black Hawk Police Department are very pleased to receive this recognition from Mayor David Spellman and the Board of Alderman, and proud to have City Marshal Robert A. Clark’s name added to the national memorial,” said Chief Cole.

City Marshal Robert Clark’s murder occurred on Saturday, July 10, 1869. Two brothers were hauling a load of flour from Valmont, Colorado through the City of Central when their team of horses endangered a chicken-coop near the Lafayette Restaurant. Nick Dupris, a cook at the restaurant, complained about the behavior and was beaten by the brothers. An arrest warrant was issued for their arrest and placed in the hands of Central City Constable Peter P. Herbert who sought the assistance of Black Hawk City Marshal Robert A. Clark. The two lawmen pursued the brothers until they came upon their wagon and horses near a ranch on Dory Hill Road, a few miles from Black Hawk. The lawmen tried to arrest the brothers in a nearby cabin, whereupon Marshal Clark was killed and Constable Herbert was shot and wounded.

Information about the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial can be found by visiting www.nleomf.org