Roll of Honor

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Police Officer

Charles D. Burdsall

Cincinnati Police Department — Cincinnati, OH

Felonious Veteran →

End of Watch July 15, 1978

Age 29

Tour of Duty 5 yrs 6 mo

Badge P087

The Vigil Panel 120 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 105

Incident

Police Officer Charles Burdsall was shot and killed when he stopped a car he suspected of being involved in an armed robbery at a convenience store minutes earlier. As he approached the vehicle on West McMicken Avenue, he was shot. A 19-year-old member of the citizen's crime watch, who was riding with him, exited the cruiser, retrieved his gun, and fired several rounds, hitting the car, which helped identify the two suspects when they were apprehended. The youth, the son of a Cincinnati police officer, was shot in the back but not seriously wounded. One of the suspects was sentenced to death but had the sentence commuted to life. The other suspect was sentenced to life. Both suspects have been denied parole twice. Their next parole hearings will be on May 2024. Officer Burdsall was a United States Army Vietnam veteran and had served with the Cincinnati Police Division for 5-1/2 years. He is survived by his wife, three children, his parents, three brothers, and a sister. One of his brothers also served with the Cincinnati Police Division.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, three children, his parents, three brothers, and a sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-5166EDD3
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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.
Police Officer Burdsall gave the Cincinnati Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH

Platform Identity cincpd.hamilton.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 15, 1978

Tour of Duty 5 yrs 6 mo

Age 29

Badge Number P087

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Charles D. Burdsall served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer Charles D. Burdsall is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 officers honored here.

In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

At Cincinnati Police Department, 63 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.4% of this agency's fallen.

Cincinnati Police Department

of 106 officers

59.4% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,586 officers

53.9% Felonious