Sewell H. Burnett

Osceola Police Dept. — Osceola, AR

Felonious

End of Watch June 15, 1919

Age 45

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 37 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Night Marshal Sewell Burnett was shot and killed while making his rounds at approximately 4:15 am.

A citizen heard a gunshot in the area of the Beall hotel and located Marshal Burnett's body at the nearby intersection of Hale Avenue and Walnut Street. Two prominent citizens were arrested and charged with his murder, but were acquitted after three separate trials ended in hung juries.

Marshal Burnett had served with the Osceola Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-161719B3
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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.
Night Marshal Burnett gave the Osceola Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Osceola community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Marshal Burnett.

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

Agency

Department Osceola Police Dept.

Location Osceola, AR

Platform Identity opd.mississippi.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 15, 1919

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Night Marshal Sewell H. Burnett 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Osceola Police Dept., 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Osceola Police Dept.

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

AR — Statewide

249

of 372 officers

66.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious