Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Don Burt was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on Nutwood Avenue in Fullerton at 8:30 p.m. Officer Burt was impounding the vehicle after discovering that the driver was driving on a suspended license. As he was searching the trunk, he found forged payroll checks and counterfeit traveler's checks. When he went to question the suspect, the man produced a 9 mm handgun and shot him six times. While lying on the ground, the suspect stole his weapon and keys and then shot him execution-style in the head. The suspect stole his patrol car and fled the scene. He was eventually located and apprehended in Houston, Texas. The suspect pleaded guilty to federal murder-for-hire charges after an attempt to have witnesses and the deputy district attorney in the case murdered. As a result of that plea agreement, he also pleaded guilty to the murder of Officer Burt and, on June 23, 2000, was sentenced to death. Officer Burt had served with the California Highway Patrol for just over 1 year. Officer Burt's wife gave birth to their son on September 22, 1996, two months after his murder. His father also served with the California Highway Patrol, and his father-in-law and brother-in-law were law enforcement officers in California.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-427D903C- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Officer Burt gave the California Highway Patrol 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Burt.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Don Joseph Burt 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 97,756 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At California Highway Patrol, 71 of 233 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Don Joseph Burt's cause is highlighted.
How Don Joseph Burt Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Don Joseph Burt is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Don Joseph Burt was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
232 officers from California Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
