Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Joe Burson succumbed to injuries sustained when he was dragged by a vehicle during a traffic stop of a speeding vehicle at about 11:00 pm.
He had stopped the vehicle on Hickory Road between Little Road and Hickory Hills Drive. At some point during the stop, the driver attempted to flee in the car and dragged Officer Burson alongside it. Officer Burson was able to fatally shoot the subject while being dragged but suffered severe injuries when he fell to the pavement.
Officer Burson had served with the Holly Springs Police Department for 18 months.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-5054F939- 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.
Police Officer Burson gave the Holly Springs Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Holly Springs community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Burson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Joseph William Burson 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 GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph William Burson's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph William Burson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph William Burson is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph William Burson was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Holly Springs Police Department are honored on badge.nw.