Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Constable

James H. Burns

Fairburn Police Department — Fairburn, SD

Felonious

End of Watch July 11, 1889

The Vigil Panel 10 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Constable James Burnes was shot and killed while serving a warrant for the arrest of a subject who had posted a worthless bond in Fairburn.

Constable Burns and another deputy attempted to arrest the subject when they were fired upon. The other deputy went for reinforcements. When they returned, Constable Burns had been shot, and the subject had fled. Constable Burns succumbed to his wound five hours later at 11:30 pm.

The subject was caught a few months later in Nebraska. He was found guilty and sentenced to hang.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SD-07268DA4
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

137 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable Burns served with the Fairburn Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Fairburn community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Fairburn Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Fairburn, SD

Platform Identity fpd.custer.sd.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 11, 1889

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Not available

Constable James H. Burns is one of 17,558 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,585 officers honored here.

In SD, 36 of 62 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.1% of this state's fallen. That is 4.2 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

Fairburn Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

SD — Statewide

of 62 officers

58.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,558

of 32,585 officers

53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James H. Burns's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,558 (53.9%)

Accident

10,094 (31%)

Illness

3,037 (9.3%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

334 (1%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

How James H. Burns Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James H. Burns is highlighted in Jul.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,516

May

1,504

Jun

1,442

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,491

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James H. Burns was killed by not available.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909