Roll of Honor

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Sergeant

Daniel Ray Burks

Natchez Police Department — Natchez, MS

Felonious

End of Watch April 6, 1978

Age 33

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 119 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Sergeant Daniel Burks was shot and killed as he attempting to negotiate with an armed man who wanted to shoot another man that had slapped his wife. Despite being mortally wounded, Sergeant Burks was able to return fire and killed the suspect. Sergeant Burks had served with the Natchez Police Department for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MS-DF4B3E92
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.
Sergeant Burks gave the Natchez Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Natchez community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Burks.

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

Agency

Department Natchez Police Department

Location Natchez, MS

Platform Identity npd.adams.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 6, 1978

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Sergeant Daniel Ray Burks 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 MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Natchez Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MS — Statewide

242

of 349 officers

69.3% 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. Daniel Ray Burks'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 Daniel Ray Burks Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

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. Daniel Ray Burks is highlighted in Apr.

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. Daniel Ray Burks was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518