Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Burr Robertson was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant from Kansas for the murder of a Santa Fe Railroad agent three years earlier in Pittsburg, Kansas. Chief Robertson and a deputy had gone to the Missouri C North Arkansas railroad station in Harrison, where the man was employed, after confirming an admission by the man's wife that he was wanted for the murder. When the suspect saw the officers, he opened fire, striking Chief Robertson three times. The suspect was arrested and convicted of Chief Robertson's murder. He later died in prison. Chief Robertson had served with the Harrison Police Department for only three months but had been in law enforcement for a total of twenty years, previously serving with the Hawthorne, California, Police Department and Frederick, Colorado, Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sons, and four daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-227907CF- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Robertson gave the Harrison Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Harrison community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Robertson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Burr Robertson 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 Harrison Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Burr Robertson's cause is highlighted.
How Burr Robertson Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted of murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Burr Robertson is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Burr Robertson was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Harrison Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
