Burl Whittington

Tyler Police Department — Tyler, TX

Veteran → Accident

End of Watch May 8, 1955

Age 24

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 4 mo

The Vigil Panel 91 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 3

Incident

Patrolman Burl Whittington was killed during a high-speed pursuit that began on South Broadway. He was conducting a special speed enforcement operation due to recent complaints about speeders. Patrolman Burl attempted to stop a car north of Hogg Junior High School but was led on a chase reaching 95 mph. His patrol car hit a dip in the road and went out of control on Old Bullard Road 200 yards south of the Jacksonville Highway. The vehicle struck a tree, causing Patrolman Whittington to suffer fatal injuries. Two juveniles were later arrested for their part in the chase and admitted that they were involved in a "hot rod" race. A 17-year-old was charged with speeding and two cases of failing to stop at stop signs. He paid $181.50 in fines for his traffic violations. Patrolman Whittington was a United States Army WWII veteran and had served with the Tyler Police Department for 17 months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-110D405D
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 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.
Patrolman Whittington gave the Tyler Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Tyler 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

Department Tyler Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Tyler, Smith County, TX

Platform Identity tpd.smith.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 8, 1955

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 4 mo

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon Automobile

Military Service

Burl Whittington served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Burl Whittington is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In TX, 657 of 2,422 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 27.1% of this state's fallen. That is 27.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Tyler Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Tyler Police Department

of 4 officers

75% Accident

TX — Statewide

657

of 2,422 officers

27.1% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Accident