Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Frank Burns, working with Federal Narcotics Agents, was shot in the back and killed by a drug smuggler lying in wait as he attempted to arrest another drug smuggler at a soft drink stand on South El Paso Street. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries two days later. His assailants fled to Mexico and were never apprehended. Detective Burns was a United States Army veteran and had served with the El Paso Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-66654778- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Frank is one person.
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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.
Detective Burns gave the El Paso Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the El Paso 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Frank Burns served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Detective Frank Burns 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 El Paso Police Department, 23 of 34 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank Burns's cause is highlighted.
How Frank Burns Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank Burns is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank Burns was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Frank Burns served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Frank Burns’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
33 officers from El Paso Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
