|
Support us by filling out our On-line
Donation Form
|
|
About Trooper Mark S. Charbonnier
Trooper Charbonnier, the son and brother of police officers, was a graduate of the last recruit-training troop to train in Framingham at what is now the General Headquarters. The 69th Recruit Training Troop graduated on October 28th, 1988.
On the early morning hours of September 2nd, 1994, Trooper Mark Charbonnier was on routine patrol on a desolate section of Rte. 3 in Kingston. At 3:15 in the morning he conducted a motor vehicle stop of a van operating Southbound. He approached the lone operator and obtained a license and registration for the subject. While retrieving these items, the subject, a paroled killer named David Clark, began firing a handgun at Trooper Charbonnier from his seated position within the van.
Mark was able to take immediate action, resulting in a ferocious close range gun battle near the driver's side of the van. Mark fired 4 rounds from his 9mm sidearm; Clark fired 4 rounds from a .32 caliber handgun.
Clark was seriously wounded in the battle, suffering hits to the arm and head. A bullet that struck his abdomen one inch below his bulletproof vest mortally wounded Mark Charbonnier.
After he was injured, Trooper Charbonnier was able to calmly send the radio broadcast of "Route 3 Kingston, get an ambulance here. Shots fired, ambulance, ambulance." The first responding trooper at the scene found Trooper Mark Charbonnier in a covered position at the rear of the van, his weapon still trained on his assailant.
Mark was bleeding severely and fighting for consciousness. He was evacuated from the scene and died later that morning in the operating room of a Boston Hospital.
Mark Charbonnier had just received approval for a transfer to the Norfolk District Attorney's Office as an investigator. He was newly married and working on his law degree at the New England School of Law, which he would have attained in May of 1995.
Mark was a personal friend of ours who touched our hearts. We will always miss his presence among us.
|
