Roll of Honor
James G. Burns
His Life
Senior Patrol Inspector James Burns suffered a fatal heart attack following a search in a Calexico, California, river bottom. He was searching heavy undergrowth for illegal aliens when he began to suffer chest pains. He suffered a fatal heart attack two hours later. Inspector Burns was a United States Army veteran of World War II and had served with the United States Border Patrol for 13 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-976FEB1E- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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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.
Senior Patrol Inspector Burns gave the United States Department of Justice 13 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
His Life Details
Military Service
James G. Burns served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Senior Patrol Inspector James G. Burns is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,585 officers honored here.
In DC, 71 of 1,419 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 5% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.
At United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol, 6 of 68 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 8.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James G. Burns's cause is highlighted.
How James G. Burns Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. James G. Burns is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Military Service
James G. Burns served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
67 officers from United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
