William M. Burke

New York Central Railroad Police Department — New York, NY

Accident

End of Watch August 29, 1922

Age 32

The Vigil Panel 43 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 13

Incident

Location: Illinois Weapon: Person Offender: Struck and killed

Special Officer William Burke was struck and killed by a New York Central train while involved in a foot pursuit of a trespassers near the intersection of 67th Street and South Park Avenue, in Chicago, Illinois.

The man had climbed onto the tracks with Officer Burke in pursuit when the train struck and killed both men.

Officer Burke was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Officer Burke was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-RR-5CFDACD8
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.
Special Officer Burke served with the New York Central Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Burke.

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

Agency

Department New York Central Railroad Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nycrpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 29, 1922

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Cause Detail Struck by train

Weapon Person

Offender Struck and killed

Special Officer William M. Burke 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 Central Railroad Police Department, 6 of 14 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

New York Central Railroad Police Department

of 14 officers

42.9% Accident

NY — Statewide

645

of 2,147 officers

30% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident