William A. Burton

Paris Police Department — Paris, KY

Felonious

End of Watch October 6, 1873

Age 26

The Vigil Panel 4 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Marshal William Burton was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two brothers who were causing a disturbance in a local saloon.

The saloon's owner had called for Deputy Marshal Burton after the two men became boisterous and refused to leave. Deputy Marshal Burton had placed one of the brothers under arrest when the other interfered and shot him twice, killing him. The man then beat Deputy Marshal Burton with a pistol before fleeing.

Both brothers were arrested by the town marshal. They both escaped from jail in November 1874 while awaiting trial.

Deputy Marshal Burton was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Deputy Marshal Burton was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-706DD9D2
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

153 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Marshal Burton served with the Paris Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Paris community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Paris Police Department

Location Paris, KY

Platform Identity ppd.bourbon.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 6, 1873

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Deputy Marshal William A. Burton 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%.

At Paris Police Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Paris Police Department

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious