Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Burtis Birkhoff was killed in an automobile collision while pursuing several men who fled on foot after abandoning a stolen car. He had commandeered a car and was riding on the running board as the driver drove after the men. The driver of the car stopped suddenly to avoid hitting the suspect and Patrolman Birkhoff was thrown to the ground at the intersection of 1st Street and Bergen Street. Patrolman Birkhoff had served with the Passaic Police Department for 10 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three young children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-775AE4A5- 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.
Patrolman Birkhoff gave the Passaic Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Passaic community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Birkhoff.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Burtis Birkhoff 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 NJ, 258 of 646 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.9% of this state's fallen. That is 39.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Passaic Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Burtis Birkhoff's cause is highlighted.
How Burtis Birkhoff Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Burtis Birkhoff is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Passaic Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
