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Police Officer

Joseph William Burson

Holly Springs Police Department — Holly Springs, GA

Felonious

End of Watch June 17, 2021

Age 25

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 175 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Police Officer Joe Burson succumbed to injuries sustained when he was dragged by a vehicle during a traffic stop of a speeding vehicle at about 11:00 pm.

He had stopped the vehicle on Hickory Road between Little Road and Hickory Hills Drive. At some point during the stop, the driver attempted to flee in the car and dragged Officer Burson alongside it. Officer Burson was able to fatally shoot the subject while being dragged but suffered severe injuries when he fell to the pavement.

Officer Burson had served with the Holly Springs Police Department for 18 months.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, parents, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-5054F939
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.
Police Officer Burson gave the Holly Springs Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Holly Springs community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Burson.

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

Agency

Department Holly Springs Police Department

Location Holly Springs, GA

Platform Identity hspd.cherokee.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 17, 2021

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Vehicular assault

Weapon Automobile

Offender Shot and killed

Police Officer Joseph William Burson 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Holly Springs Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph William Burson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Joseph William Burson Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

1.5

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph William Burson is highlighted in Jun.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph William Burson was killed by automobile.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518