Newport Police Department, Rhode Island
End of Watch: Saturday, March 5, 1938
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: 17 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 5, 1938
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Not available
Inspector Clune was shot and killed while questioning two juveniles in his office about the theft of several guns from an armory.
Several of the guns were on Inspector Clune's desk and during the interview one of the boys picked one up and asked if it was loaded. Inspector Clune told him it was not and as he reached to take it from the boy it discharged and struck Inspector Clune in the abdomen.
Inspector Clune was a U.S. Army vet of WWI and had been with the agency for 17 years he was survived by his wife, son and two daughters.