Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 1 year, 6 months, 12 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 12th District - Monroe
District of Incident (Present Day): 012 - Near West
Cause of Death: Crash - Automobile
Age at Time of Death: 26
Timeline
Date of Birth: 13 Nov 1957
Date of Appointment: 14 Feb 1983
Date of Incident: 26 Aug 1984
End of Watch: 26 Aug 1984
Date of Interment: 30 Aug 1984
Interment Details
Cemetery: Queen of Heaven Cemetery - Hillside, Illinois
Grave Location: Grave 1, Lot 26, Block 5, Section 34
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # D-7
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 16
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 3, Line 40
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 44-E: 6
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: Did Not Serve
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Martin Paul Clarke, Star #13453, aged 26 years, was a 1 year, 6 months, 12 days veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 12th District – Monroe
On August 26, 1984, at 11:30 p.m., Officer Clarke and his partner, Patrolman Ricardo Mancha, age 26, were working beat 1212. The officers were on patrol traveling northbound on Paulina Street. As their squad car passed 13th Street they were broadsided by an Eastbound motorist who was traveling at a high rate of speed and failed to stop at the stop sign. The vehicle was driven by Willie E. White, age 22, of 1324 South Wood Street. The squad car was struck on the driver side rear quarter panel causing the car to go into a spin. It then jumped the Northeast curb and came to rest 20 to 30 feet into a vacant lot. Officer Clarke was ejected from the car through the drivers’ window and came to rest six to eight feet from the squad car. He sustained serious injuries and was decapitated. Officer Mancha was thrown from the passenger seat into the rear of the squad car and became pinned in. He was extricated by CFD. He was transported to Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Hospital by CFD Ambulance #33 and pronounced dead on arrival by Dr. Weinstein at 12:25 a.m. on August 27, 1984. Officer Mancha was transported to Cook County Hospital and was treated for injuries to his shoulder, abdomen and spleen. He was later discharged and made a full recovery. White and his passenger, Thedious McNairy, age 18, of 1320 South Wood Street, fled the scene on foot.
On August 27, 1984, at 12:05 a.m., White and McNairy were arrested at 1825 West Roosevelt Road. White was charged with reckless homicide
Officer Clarke was waked at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home located at 4727 West 103rd Street, Oak Lawn, Illinois. His funeral mass was held at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church located at 8200 South Kostner Avenue. He was laid to rest on August 30, 1984 in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, 400 South Wolf Road, Hillside, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 1, Lot 26, Block 5, Section 34.
Patrolman Martin Paul Clarke, born November 13, 1957, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on February 14, 1983. Before joining the Chicago Police Department Officer Clarke was a Jesuit volunteer in Nome, Alaska, for a year and a certified paramedic.
Officer Clarke was a member of the Emerald Society, Fraternal Order of Police and The Illinois Police Association. He was survived by his fiancée, Theresa; parents: Mary Suzane (nee Markley) and Robert Emmet (CPD) and siblings: Patricia S. (CPD) and Robert.
Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department RD #F870312.
On January 11, 2006, Officer Clarke’s star was retired by Superintendent Philip J. Cline and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, located in the lobby at Chicago Police Headquarters, 3510 South Michigan Avenue.