Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Charles Burrell was in a restaurant at the corner of 28th and Church Street when two men approached from behind him.
One of the men shot Detective Burrell in the neck, the bullet ranging upward through his jaw and lodging in his head. Both men were quickly captured and the weapon was recovered. Detective Burrell was taken to a local hospital where he was able to identify one of his assailants.
The investigation into the shooting revealed that Detective Burrell, an African American, had been working to wipe out cocaine dealing in the segregated areas of Galveston. He had arrested his two assailants, both Caucasian males, several times in the recent past for drug dealing.
Detective Burrell died from his wounds one week later, on July 30th, 1914.
Detective Burrell was survived by his wife, sister, and two brothers. He is buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Galveston, Texas.
Survivors
Detective Burrell was survived by his wife, sister, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-5753CAF7- 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
You barely got started.
Detective Burrell gave the Galveston Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Galveston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Burrell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Charles Burrell is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Galveston Police Department, 10 of 19 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 52.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Burrell's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Burrell Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Burrell is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Burrell was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
18 officers from Galveston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
