Kenneth J. Clark Jr., who was decorated with a Bronze Star during his 14-year career as a Baltimore police officer, died of brain cancer Sunday at his Jarrettsville home. He was 47.

Born in Baltimore and raised in the Middlesex section of Baltimore County, he was a 1981 Kenwood High School graduate.

As a young man, he became a certified master auto mechanic and worked at Archway Ford in Reisterstown. A restorer and rebuilder of racing cars, he owned Mustangs, Chevy Novas and Chevelles over the years.

"He always tried to make his cars faster. He raced them on the streets," said his wife, the former Lisa A. Rogers. "He was part of the time when everybody brought their hot rods to the Circle on Dundalk Avenue or the Thunderbird at Back River Neck Road and Old Eastern Avenue."

At his death, Mr. Clark was rebuilding a Ford truck.

He joined the Baltimore Police Department in 1995. After graduating from the police academy, he was assigned to the Eastern District and worked the 334 post, long the East Monument Street-Orangeville area.

"He did his job without fanfare and was always willing to help his fellow officers and others in the community," said Lt. James Kelly, a friend from the Eastern District.

On New Year's Eve 1999, Mr. Clark investigated a call about a suspected drug dealer in an apartment house at North Avenue and Washington Street. He and two other officers each searched a floor of the building, a former public school. When fellow Officer Mark Butcher did not return outside, then-Officer Clark went inside and found him fighting with a suspect who had broken loose while being handcuffed.

"The spot was notorious for guns and drugs," said Mr. Butcher. "It would have been over for me. I found drugs taped to [the dealer's] ankle. I was putting on the handcuffs when he struggled with me and grabbed my Glock and broke it loose from my holster. I got the gun back when Ken Clark arrived."

His fellow officer credited Mr. Clark with saving his life during the fight. He and Officer Mark Greff, who also subdued the drug dealer, were awarded the department's Bronze Star for valor.

Mr. Clark was also awarded a Police Life Saving Ribbon for coming to the assistance of a man who had attempted suicide.

Friends said that Mr. Clark enjoyed his work in the Eastern District. He ate his meals at the China Wok on Highland Avenue or at the Northeast Market and made a point of getting to know residents along the Monument Street corridor.

"Some of the kids he arrested would come back and ask if he remembered them," said his wife. "He would talk to them, and advise them to get a new set of friends and go back and stay in school. He knew he couldn't save everybody, but he was happy even to get some of those kids back on track."

His wife said he "respected and gained the confidence" of the residents in his post.

"When something went wrong, they felt as if they could talk to him when they would not speak to other officers," his wife said.

He also drove a police wagon, No. 92. Because of his knowledge of automobiles, he worked a stolen-car recovery operation, known as the RAT unit. He helped locate and investigate a shop where stolen cars were being stripped for parts.

After his diagnosis with brain cancer, he left police work late last year.

"He put up a valiant fight to the end," said a fellow officer, Lou McAlexander. "He was always wanting to return to work."

Mr. Clark was a lifelong hunter and fisherman. A good shot, he scheduled his vacations to coincide with deer hunting season and displayed mounted deer heads at his home.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the New Beginnings Ministries Church, 741 N. Lakewood Ave. Family members said the church was selected because it is located in Mr. Clark's post.

In addition to his wife of 17 years, survivors include two sons, Timothy Clark and Tyler Clark; a stepson, Matthew Johnson; a stepdaughter, Nicole Johnson, all of Baltimore County; and a sister, Karen Roop of Abingdon.

jacques.kelly@baltsun.com