Officer Sparks was shot and killed after stopping a robbery suspect at Grand and Castleman Streets following a grocery store robbery. Officer Sparks effected the vehicle stop, approached the vehicle and was shot twice in the head. The suspect, Earl Nickens, who was fleeing from a grocery store holdup, was arrested several hours later by Sergeant James McQualley, Officer Donald Quathright and Officer James Scott.

Officer Sparks had been with the agency for ten years, joining the department in 1954. He was survived by his wife and 9-year-old daughter. Interred: Concordia Cemetery.