Roy E. Burton
Agency patch
Special Officer

Roy E. Burton

Felonious
End of Watch July 27, 1922
Age 30
Tour of Duty 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 43 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: California Weapon: Handgun Offender: At large

Special Officer Roy Burton was shot and killed from ambush as he patrolled the switching yards in San Bernardino, California, approximately 150 yards west of the Mt. Vernon Avenue viaduct. Seven men were seen running from the area where gunfire was heard. Officer Burton was found with his revolver in his hand. Three shots had been fired. It was thought he may have wounded one or more suspects.

A suspect was arrested 10 days later but later released due to insufficient evidence.

Officer Burton was survived by his wife. He had served with the agency for only 6 months.

Survivors

Officer Burton was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-4DF062A9
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.
Special Officer Burton served with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Topeka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Burton.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Topeka, KS
Platform Identity atsfrpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 27, 1922
Tour of Duty 6 mo
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Special Officer Roy E. Burton 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 KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 70.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department, 24 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department
24
of 32 officers
75% Felonious
KS — Statewide
237
of 335 officers
70.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Roy E. Burton's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Roy E. Burton Compares

Age at Death
30
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Roy E. Burton is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Roy E. Burton was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location