PGPD Remembers Fallen Officer Carlton Fletcher

Let us pause to remember our fallen hero Officer Carlton Fletcher, lost this day in 1983.

Officer Fletcher was born on April 11, 1951, in Prince George's County. He served with honor and distinction in the United States Air National Guard, reaching the rank of staff sergeant before being honorably discharged in 1975. Officer Fletcher joined the Prince George's County Police Department on July 18, 1976. Upon graduation from the academy, he was assigned to the Hyattsville district station. Four years later, he was transferred to the new Beltsville district station.

On the evening of June 11, 1983, Officer Fletcher was sitting in his marked police cruiser in the parking lot of a convenience store on Greenbelt Road in Lanham waiting to escort the store's manager on a night deposit as part of a secondary employment assignment. Without warning, two suspects approached and shot into his cruiser. Officer Fletcher was seriously wounded. Sadly, he died of his injuries the morning of June 12, 1983. After shooting our officer, the suspects also fatally shot the store’s manager. The two suspect were arrested and charged with both murders.

Officer Fletcher served the Prince George's County Police Department for seven years and was the 14th member of this agency to make the ultimate sacrifice. He was the 23rd law enforcement officer to give his life in service to this profession within Prince George's County.

      

At the time of his death, Officer Carlton Fletcher was 32 years old and survived by his expectant wife and young daughter.