Roll of Honor
Curtis C. Burks
Incident
Special Agent Curtis Burks succumbed to gunshot wounds when he was shot while serving a search warrant at 1039 Independence Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 20, 1931. Agent Burks and a dozen other agents and local officers were conducting a raid on a local flower shop. During the raid, they discovered a few men in the backroom. As they searched, one of the men suddenly pulled out a .45 caliber handgun and fatally shot Agent Burks and wounded a second agent. He then ran outside, where he shot a bystander and a Kansas City police officer. He was shot and killed by a lieutenant in the Kansas City Police Department. Agent Burks had served with the United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition for 1 1/2 years. Survivors include his wife and son. Please click here to view additional officers killed by "Pretty Boy" Floyd and his gang.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FF99E304- 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
You barely got started.
Special Agent Burks gave the United States Department of Justice 1 year.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Burks.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Curtis C. Burks 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 Justice - Bureau of Prohibition, 22 of 35 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Curtis C. Burks's cause is highlighted.
How Curtis C. Burks Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Curtis C. Burks is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Curtis C. Burks was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
34 officers from United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
