Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police William Burden was shot and killed as he and a Kentucky state trooper attempted to serve a warrant on a woman wanted for threatening with intent to kill.
Chief Burden went to the home's front door as the trooper went to the rear of the house. The woman's husband opened fire on him with a 410 gauge shotgun, killing him. As the trooper ran to the front of the home, the man shot and wounded him before fleeing.
Both the man and wife were arrested a short time later. The 35-year-old man was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to five years.
Chief Burden's brother, Town Marshal Walter Burden, was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man on March 4, 1923.
Chief Burden had served with the Kuttawa Police Department for two years and had previously served as chief of the Dawson Springs Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-4C25D03D- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Burden gave the Kuttawa Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kuttawa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Burden.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police William Givens Burden 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Givens Burden's cause is highlighted.
How William Givens Burden Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 5 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Givens Burden is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Givens Burden was killed by shotgun; 410 gauge.