Nearly 140 years after he was killed in the line of duty, Black Hawk’s first city marshal, Robert Clark, was honored Wednesday along with current officers who ensured the national enshrinement of his service.
Records recently uncovered by Black Hawk Police Chief Stephen Cole and his staff proved the marshal was gunned down in the line of duty on July 10, 1869, trying to arrest two brothers wanted for beating a restaurant cook who complained about their rowdy behavior.
Central City Constable Peter P. Herbert was wounded in the same shootout near a ranch on Dory Hill Road, near Black Hawk.
Current city fathers declared Wednesday “Black Hawk Police Recognition Day” to honor Clark and the work of current law officers did to get his name added to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington D.C.
After reading a resolution first presented at a special council meeting the day after Clark’s murder, current Mayor David Spellman said, “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.”
Clark became the earliest line-of-duty death for a Colorado law enforcement officer listed on the national memorial in Washington D.C., according to the city. He replaced Bent County Constable Charles Faber, who was killed in 1876, as Colorado’s earliest entry.
