Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

Alva H. Burnett

Pierre Police Department — Pierre, SD

Felonious

End of Watch June 11, 1944

Age 54

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 80 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Alva Burnett was shot and killed around 6 p.m. after responding to a domestic disturbance for the second time in one day at a home on West Sioux Avenue near Charles Street. Prior to the second call, the suspect had doused his wife with gasoline and lit her on fire. Patrolman Burnett was attempting to talk to the suspect, who was standing in the doorway of the couple's home, when the man suddenly raised his 410-gauge shotgun and shot Patrolman Burnett. The suspect was killed at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Patrolman Burnett had served with the department for two years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SD-1D6D67C3
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 Burnett gave the Pierre Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pierre community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Burnett.

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

Agency

Department Pierre Police Department

Location Pierre, SD

Platform Identity ppd.hughes.sd.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 11, 1944

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 54

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun; 410 gauge

Offender Deceased

Patrolman Alva H. Burnett 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 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 3.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Pierre Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

SD — Statewide

of 62 officers

58.1% 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. Alva H. Burnett'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 Alva H. Burnett 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

Deceased

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alva H. Burnett is highlighted in Jun.

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. Alva H. Burnett was killed by shotgun; 410 gauge.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518