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Incident
Detective Frank Burns, working with Federal Narcotics Agents, was shot in the back and killed by a drug smuggler lying in wait as he attempted to arrest another drug smuggler at a soft drink stand on South El Paso Street. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries two days later. His assailants fled to Mexico and were never apprehended. Detective Burns was a United States Army veteran and had served with the El Paso Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Frank is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Detective Burns gave the El Paso Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the El Paso community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Frank Burns served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
El Paso Police Department has lost 34 officers; 23 of them killed feloniously.
Frank is one of 1,462 officers killed feloniously in TX, 60.3% of the 2,423 remembered there.
Frank is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Frank is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1923, 2 officers at El Paso Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1923, 9 officers in TX were killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 180 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 19.
In 1923, 199 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 14th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1923, 200 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 16th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Frank was 28. Of the 20 killed feloniously at El Paso Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 28.8 and 40.3; the middle age was 37. Frank had served 2.3 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Frank was 28. Of the 1,330 killed feloniously in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 37. Frank had served 2.3 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Frank was 28. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Frank had served 2.3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Frank was 28. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Frank had served 2.3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 4.3% of these deaths at El Paso Police Department; October holds the most, 17.4%. Thursdays: 13%.
April holds 7.3% of these deaths in TX; December holds the most, 10.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 67.6% of all 34 deaths at El Paso Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 34.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.3% of all 2,423 deaths in TX, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 14.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
El Paso Police Department has 34 officers remembered here, Frank among them.
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Thomas P. Moad Jul 11, 1883
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Newton Stewart
Feb 17, 1900
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William Paschall
Dec 4, 1914
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Gus Chitwood
Feb 13, 1915
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Sidney J. Benson
Jun 28, 1917
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Octaviano Perea
Feb 1, 1918
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George Franklin Drake
Sep 22, 1918
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Harry Phoenix
Jun 13, 1921
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Frank Burns
Apr 12, 1923
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Enrique Rivera Nov 25, 1923
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John Jack Coleman
Jul 14, 1924
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Lynn Reed McClintock
Oct 3, 1926
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Schuyler C. Houston
Oct 4, 1927
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Ralph O. Marmolejo
Mar 17, 1951
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Warren Mitchell
May 16, 1953
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Guillermo Sanchez
Dec 14, 1957
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Arthur Joe Lavender, Jr.
Dec 16, 1966
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Roger A. Hamilton
Jun 21, 1970
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Guy Ray Myers, Jr.
Jul 24, 1970
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David Bannister
Jun 3, 1974
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Wayne V. Carreon
Jun 10, 1981
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Charles Douglas Heinrich
Aug 29, 1985
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Norman Michael Montion
Oct 16, 1989
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Ernesto Serna
Nov 12, 1991
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Angel Andrew Barcena
Sep 25, 2004
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Karl Raymond McDonough
Oct 13, 2010
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Jonathan Keith Molina
Oct 5, 2012
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Angel David Garcia
Dec 16, 2012
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Adrian Arellano
Mar 18, 2015
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David Ortiz
Mar 14, 2016
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Camerino Santiago
Jan 11, 2021
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Jonathan Andre Terrazas
Sep 1, 2021
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Gerardo Morales
Jan 7, 2022
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Santos Perez
Dec 2, 2022
Where
Military Service
Frank Burns served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Frank Burns’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
33 officers from El Paso Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
