Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman James Burns died of injuries he received in a motorcycle accident while on patrol. Patrolman Burns' motorcycle collided with a coal truck at the corner of Bay Parkway and West Ninth Street, Brooklyn. He died one week later from his injuries. Patrolman Burns had served with the New York City Police Department for seven years and was assigned to Motorcycle Squad 2, the present-day Highway 2.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife of three months.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-5E91B5B8- 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.
Patrolman Burns gave the New York City Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Burns.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman James J. Burns is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At New York City Police Department, 283 of 1237 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 22.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James J. Burns's cause is highlighted.
How James J. Burns Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James J. Burns is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,236 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
