Roll of Honor
Burdette M. Huffaker
Incident
Location: Kentucky Weapon: Handgun; .45 caliber Offender: Four sentenced to 5 years
Storekeeper-Gauger Burdette Huffaker was shot and killed in Anderson County, Kentucky, when several men attempted to rob the U.S. government's Old Joe Distillery.
He was on overnight duty in the guardhouse when he was lured out by seven men shortly after midnight. As he stepped out of the guardhouse he was shot several times in the neck and torso and killed instantly by one of the suspects. The men stole his gun before fleeing the area. His body was found at about 7:00 am when his relief officer arrived at work.
Seven men, ages 20 to 26, most from wealthy families, were arrested in connection with his murder. Four, including his killer, age 21, were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years each in the state reformatory. Two were acquitted and the seventh who turned states evidence was given immunity.
Storekeeper Huffaker had served with the Internal Revenue Service for 26 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-3666A2CD- 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
26 years. You could have gone home.
Storekeeper-Gauger Huffaker gave the United States Department of the Treasury 26 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Storekeeper-Gauger Huffaker.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Storekeeper-Gauger Burdette M. Huffaker 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit, 47 of 59 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 79.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Burdette M. Huffaker's cause is highlighted.
How Burdette M. Huffaker Compares
Offender Outcome
Four sentenced to 5 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Burdette M. Huffaker is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Burdette M. Huffaker was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
58 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
