Joseph R. Wilson

Burbank Police Department — Burbank, CA

Accident Veteran

End of Watch June 17, 1961

Age 36

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 96 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Officer Joe Wilson was killed when his police motorcycle was broadsided at Buena Vista Avenue and Thornton Street in Burbank. The driver of the vehicle was charged with manslaughter. A judge reduced the felony charges to misdemeanor manslaughter, and he was sentenced to one year in prison. Officer Wilson was a veteran of WWII and had served with the Burbank Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-A4103357
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 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.
Officer Wilson gave the Burbank Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Burbank community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Burbank Police Department

Location Burbank, CA

Platform Identity bpd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 17, 1961

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender One year in prison

Military Service

Joseph R. Wilson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer Joseph R. Wilson is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In CA, 719 of 1,837 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

At Burbank Police Department, 2 of 5 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.

Burbank Police Department

of 5 officers

40% Accident

CA — Statewide

719

of 1,837 officers

39.1% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident