Peter John Burke

Atlantic City Police Department — Atlantic City, NJ

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch October 1, 1970

Age 26

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 3 mo

The Vigil Panel 107 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 9

Incident

Patrolman Peter Burke was shot and killed after being flagged down by a business owner regarding two suspicious males at 11:45 pm near the intersection of Illinois Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. As he approached the men, one of them opened fire with a sawed-off shotgun, fatally wounding him. One suspect was immediately arrested and ultimately acquitted. The second suspect, a member of the Black Panther Party, fled to Cuba but returned to the United States and was arrested in Miami, Florida, on September 26, 1990. He was sentenced to life for Patrolman Burke's murder and four years for unlawful flight. His parole was denied on December 30, 2005. Patrolman Burke was one of the first officers to join the Canine Corps when it was established. He and his K9 Thor made the first canine arrest in the department's history. K9 Thor was in the patrol wagon when Patrolman Burke was shot. Patrolman Burke was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War and Vietnam War. He had served with the Atlantic City Police Department for 15 months.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, three brothers, and five sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NJ-870ECA6D
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Peter. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Peter is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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.
Patrolman Burke gave the Atlantic City Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Atlantic City 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

Department Atlantic City Police Department

Type Other

Location Atlantic City, Atlantic County, NJ

Platform Identity atlapd.atlantic.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 1, 1970

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 3 mo

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Military Service

Peter John Burke served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Peter John Burke 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In NJ, 229 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.4% of this state's fallen. That is 35.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Atlantic City Police Department, 5 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Atlantic City Police Department

of 10 officers

50% Felonious

NJ — Statewide

229

of 646 officers

35.4% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious