Peter Beckett Burd

Illinois Department of Corrections — Springfield, IL

Felonious

End of Watch January 10, 1977

Age 33

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 118 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 31

Incident

Lieutenant Peter Burd was stabbed to death at the Stateville Correctional Center Cellhouse D at 16830 IL-53 in Crest Hill. Lieutenant Burd was supervising 125 inmates during their evening meal when he was stabbed in the neck, severing the carotid artery, by a passing inmate. An eight-inch shank was found near the site of the attack. He was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. A suspected inmate was tried for Lieutenant Burd's murder, but a judge acquitted the felon. From the investigation, it was discovered that Lieutenant Burd was killed in retaliation for actions by other guards. Another guard was stabbed on the same day as Lieutenant Burd. At the time, it was believed to be unrelated. Lieutenant Burd was the second guard killed on the gubernatorial inauguration day. Attacks on guards on Inauguration Day began in 1969 when inmates blew up a unit and injured guards. Correctional Officer James P. Zeiger was stabbed to death on January 11, 1973. Lieutenant Burd had served with the Illinois Department of Corrections for eight years.

Survivors

He was survived by three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-9B21F672
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Peter. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lieutenant Burd gave the Illinois Department of Corrections 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Illinois. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Burd.

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

Agency

Department Illinois Department of Corrections

Type Corrections

Location Springfield, IL

Platform Identity illicorr.sangamon.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 10, 1977

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon

Lieutenant Peter Beckett Burd is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.

In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Illinois Department of Corrections, 27 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 84.4% of this agency's fallen.

Illinois Department of Corrections

of 32 officers

84.4% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious