Extraordinary friend is example of what this country needs, Austintown cop says

AUSTINTOWN

A 30-year friendship between Robert Clark, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI Gang Unit in Los Angeles, and Don Corbett, former Austintown police officer, helped turn a security guard into a successful FBI agent, a volunteer for disadvantaged kids and a selfless person giving his all to make his surroundings a better place.

Clark, who spent a portion of his life in foster care, started his career as a security guard at Wedgewood Lanes.

Occasionally, Corbett said Clark called in for backup from the Austintown Police Department to handle out-of-hand situations.

Corbett, then a full-time APD officer, often responded and said in observing how Clark acted in handling the situations, he came to like him.

“He wore the uniform very professional – always ironed and [his hair was] cut like military,” Corbett said.

In 1986, Clark, who attended Cardinal Mooney High School and spent time at Youngstown State University, joined the Austintown police as the only black officer on the force.

Clark called that time “very unique.”

“I’ll never forget the first day in the roll-call room. I walked in the back, and people knew I was getting onto the department, and one officer said, ‘He’s not riding with me. People will think I have a prisoner in my car.’ It was an interesting introduction,” Clark said.

Corbett didn’t let his co-workers’ opinion sway him from taking Clark under his wing. He saw potential that others didn’t.

Coming from a rough childhood in Youngstown in which his father was murdered, and his two uncles involved in organized crime, Corbett said it seemed as though Clark would be someone that wouldn’t have a chance.

Corbett said he always knew Clark was going to be somebody.

White and black police officers can work together and learn from each other. We need to all stick together,” Corbett said. “He makes things a unit by getting people together. That’s what we need, that’s what this country needs.”

Read more about this extraordinary friendship in Saturay's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.