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Roy E. Burton
Incident
Location: California Weapon: Handgun Offender: At large
Special Officer Roy Burton was shot and killed from ambush as he patrolled the switching yards in San Bernardino, California, approximately 150 yards west of the Mt. Vernon Avenue viaduct. Seven men were seen running from the area where gunfire was heard. Officer Burton was found with his revolver in his hand. Three shots had been fired. It was thought he may have wounded one or more suspects.
A suspect was arrested 10 days later but later released due to insufficient evidence.
Officer Burton was survived by his wife. He had served with the agency for only 6 months.
Survivors
Officer Burton was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
NW-9C6R-TEAE-Cearlier record number BO-US-RR-4DF062A9- Stewardship
- 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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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Officer Burton served with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Burton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department has lost 32 officers; 24 of them killed feloniously.
Roy is one of 237 officers killed feloniously in KS, 70.7% of the 335 remembered there.
Roy is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.
Roy is one of 17,629 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,910 remembered here.
33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1922, 1 officer at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 20 years on record. The heaviest was 1911, with 2.
In 1922, 7 officers in KS were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 112 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 8.
In 1922, 228 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1922, 306 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Roy was 30. Of the 21 killed feloniously at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 35 and 48; the middle age was 43. Roy had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 3 years.
Roy was 30. Of the 211 killed feloniously in KS whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 49; the middle age was 42. Roy had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 4.5 years.
Roy was 30. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Roy had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Roy was 30. Of the 15,849 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Roy had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 12.5% of these deaths at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department; August holds the most, 16.7%. Thursdays: 16.7%.
July holds 11.4% of these deaths in KS, more than any other month. Thursdays: 8.4%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 75% of all 32 deaths at Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 58.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 70.7% of all 335 deaths in KS, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 22.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,910 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department has 32 officers remembered here, Roy among them.
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Charles Hale
Oct 7, 1874
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Joseph Lampkin Dec 8, 1891
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George C. Montgomery Oct 5, 1901
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C. S. Calhoun Jul 12, 1905
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Thomas Clay Warden
Mar 2, 1906
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Oscar G. Bodley
Aug 29, 1906
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Charles L. Stewart
Aug 13, 1908
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J. A. McClure Jan 25, 1911
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John P. Cates Jun 7, 1911
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Joseph M. Kroskey Feb 22, 1912
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George W. Greenstreet Jun 17, 1912
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George W. LaPorte Mar 21, 1914
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Thomas J. Sullivan Apr 5, 1915
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William Francis Langdon
Dec 10, 1915
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Charles A. Kieper
Mar 17, 1919
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Jack Chelton Harris
Jul 15, 1919
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L. Frank Cornelius
Jan 20, 1921
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Thomas McMillin Aug 29, 1921
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Charles Sherman Patterson Aug 29, 1921
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Roy E. Burton Jul 27, 1922
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Vernon L. Holzer Aug 21, 1923
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Louis McCamant Apr 25, 1924
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Edward Lee Bowler Jan 16, 1925
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Lewis H. Mickey Mar 20, 1925
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Roy W. Stewart Jan 9, 1926
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Earl Scothorn Nov 13, 1927
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James Edward Dunman
Oct 29, 1930
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Buford A. French Nov 11, 1932
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John H. Nafziger
Jan 30, 1940
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Harry Lloyd Ashley
Dec 19, 1947
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Jimmie Allen Barnett Apr 29, 1975
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James Robert Robison
Feb 10, 1986
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 58-W
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
