Roll of Honor
John William Burk
Incident
Chief Deputy Sheriff John Burk was shot and killed by one of two men he attempted to arrest on warrants charging them with assaulting a policeman in Ironaton a few nights earlier.
The men had beaten the Ironaton officer with his own pistol, which they kept. Chief Deputy Burk had located the suspects in Talladega and went alone to arrest them. The suspect who shot him was apprehended in Jefferson County the next day. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. In March of 1923 his sentence was commuted to life. He was paroled on May 30, 1940.
Chief Deputy Burk is buried in Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery, Talladega, Alabama.
We remember Deputy John William Burk today, on the 100th anniversary of his passing. He is hereby honored. His killer is long forgotten.
Stan Jefferson Citizen of Arizona February 26th, 2018
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-AL-7672B8BB- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Burk gave the Talladega County Sheriff's Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Talladega community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief Deputy Sheriff Burk.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief Deputy Sheriff John William Burk is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Talladega County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John William Burk's cause is highlighted.
How John William Burk Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1940
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John William Burk is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John William Burk was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Talladega County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
