John Thomas Burlinson

Miami Police Department — Miami, FL

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch March 8, 1958

Age 26

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 93 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 38

Incident

Officer Burlinson was killed when his patrol car was struck by a drunk driver at SW 16th Avenue and SW 7th Street at 0355 hours. The drunk driver ran a stop sign and struck the rear of his patrol car, causing it to go out of control. The patrol car struck a palm tree and Officer Burlinson was thrown from the vehicle. The 44-year-old driver was charged with drunk driving and running a stop sign but only convicted of running a stop sign and sentenced to three months in jail and fined $150.00. Officer Burlinson was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War.

Survivors

He had been in law enforcement for four years and was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FL-6B7FC41B
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.
Police Officer Burlinson gave the Miami Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Miami 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 Miami Police Department

Location Miami, FL

Platform Identity mpd.miamidade.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 8, 1958

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Sentenced to 3 months

Military Service

John Thomas Burlinson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer John Thomas Burlinson 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Miami Police Department, 20 of 39 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.3% of this agency's fallen.

Miami Police Department

of 39 officers

51.3% Felonious

FL — Statewide

539

of 1,008 officers

53.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious