DENVER (KDVR) — The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office 85 years ago suffered its first line of duty loss in an Arvada bar shooting that turned deadly.
Jefferson County Undersheriff Clarence Fugate died on Oct. 12, 1940, after Jack Carleton, the bartender at Lee’s Tavern in Arvada, shot him when Fugate came to the bar to arrest him over a prior shooting at the bar.
According to the sheriff’s office, Carleton earlier that day had shot a man at the bar for “flirting with his wife.”
When Fugate arrived at the bar to arrest Carleton, Carleton “purposely misdirected” Fugate to the kitchen to look for the weapon used in the shooting.
After Fugate searched the kitchen and couldn’t find anything, he returned to the bar, where Carleton opened fire and killed him.
Deputies who were also at the bar returned fire and shot Carleton, who later recovered and was convicted for killing Fugate and sentenced to life in prison.
“Although 85 years have passed, our commitment remains steadfast — we will always remember those that we’ve lost,” the sheriff’s office said in a Sunday post on X. “We do this by reflecting on Fugate’s bravery and his lasting legacy of service to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.”
The sheriff’s office also took a moment to honor Fugate over the radio Sunday morning.
“Every deputy accepts the dangers in this career, knowing that one day he or she might have to make the ultimate sacrifice for our community,” the sheriff’s office said. “That’s why we reflect on those who’ve given their lives in service, to ensure they are honored and remembered.”
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
