Edward Howard Burch

Lafayette Police Department — Lafayette, LA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 5, 1969

Age 48

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

The Vigil Panel 104 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Patrolman Burch was shot and killed by a 17-year-old youth he had arrested for running a red light and driving a stolen car at 1:22 am. Another officer was pursuing youths who had run a red light in a stolen vehicle. As Patrol Birch arrived to assist, the officer apprehended one of the subjects. Patrolman Burch took custody of the juvenile while the officer proceeded to chase the other subjects. Patrolman Burch searched, handcuffed hands in front of him, and placed the juvenile subject in the back seat of the patrol car. The vehicle had only traveled a block from the scene when the subject produced a .22 caliber pistol from his boot and shot Patrolman Burch three times in the back of his head at the intersection of Eighth Street and St. Charles Street. The subject, 17, was apprehended at a Lafayette motel later that morning, still wearing his handcuffs. The subject was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. In 1970, he received an additional five years for an escape attempt. On February 9, 1974, he was charged with attempted murder after he stabbed a fellow inmate. On December 3, 1992, he applied for parole. Result unknown. Patrolman Burch was a United States World War II Army veteran who had served with the Lafayette Police Department for nine years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, three sisters, and a brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-LA-D4374924
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.
Patrolman Burch gave the Lafayette Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lafayette 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 Lafayette Police Department

Location Lafayette, LA

Platform Identity lpd.lafayette.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 5, 1969

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .22 caliber

Offender stolen vehicle

Military Service

Edward Howard Burch served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Edward Howard Burch 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Lafayette Police Department, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Lafayette Police Department

of 7 officers

100% Felonious

LA — Statewide

364

of 595 officers

61.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious