Roll of Honor
Incident
City Marshal T. B. Sullivan received information about a house of prostitution. At 12:15 a.m. City Marshal Sullivan decided to raid the house to arrest the occupants. As he was proceeding to the house, James P. “Jim” Burk volunteered to go with him. Burk took the marshal’s pistol and walked around the house. The occupants opened fire and Burk was shot through the heart and he died in about 4 minutes. Marshal Sullivan rushed to Burk’s aid and caught him as he was reeling from the effects of his wound. The marshal and sheriff’s deputies arrested three men, Ed Hargrave, Will Manning and Albert Smith. Ed Hargrave was tried and convicted of murder in the second degree and sentenced to 25 years in prison. The Court noted “Defendant allegedly shot the victim, who was a police officer, at a house of prostitution.”
Very little information is known about Jim Burk at this time. He was reportedly 36 years old and unmarried. His body was sent to Denison, Grayson County, for burial, but the place of burial is unknown.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9
Marshal Chris Di Gerolamo Federal Air Marshal Service April 25th, 2018
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-FAA8F492- 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.
Deputized Civilian Burk served with the Big Spring Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Big Spring community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputized Civilian Burk.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputized Civilian James P. Burk 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 Big Spring Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James P. Burk's cause is highlighted.
How James P. Burk Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James P. Burk is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James P. Burk was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Big Spring Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
