Roll of Honor
Incident
On Monday, May 1, 1905, Kaufman County Precinct 8 Constable John D. Burk was in the City of Kaufman conducting business. At approximately 3:30 p.m., Constable Burk responded to a report of a disturbance at J. J. Patterson's pool room. Constable Burk arrested M. B. Scott who was intoxicated. Constable Burk had to hit Scott in the head with his pistol when Scott resisted arrest. Constable Burk then allowed Scott to wash his hands. Scott returned with a pistol and shot Constable Burk in the head. Constable Burk died from the gunshot wounds approximately 2 hours later.
On July 15, 1905, M. B. Scott was sentenced to 20 years in the state penitentiary for murder in the second degree. On February 21, 1906, the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas reversed and remanded the case. On January 9, 1907, Scott pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in the state penitentiary for killing Constable Burk.
Constable Burk was survived by his wife and family, with an unknown number of children. He was buried next to a former wife in an unmarked grave, at Bell Springs Cemetery, in the community of Massey, in Hill County, Texas.
On Monday, May 1, 1905, Kaufman County Precinct 8 Constable John D. Burk was in the City of Kaufman conducting business. At approximately 3:30 p.m., Constable Burk responded to a report of a disturbance at J. J. Patterson's pool room. Constable Burk arrested M. B. Scott who was intoxicated. Constable Burk had to hit Scott in the head with his pistol when Scott resisted arrest. Constable Burk then allowed Scott to wash his hands. Scott returned with a pistol and shot Constable Burk in the head. Constable Burk died from the gunshot wounds approximately 2 hours later.
On July 15, 1905, M. B. Scott was sentenced to 20 years in the state penitentiary for murder in the second degree. On February 21, 1906, the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas reversed and remanded the case. On January 9, 1907, Scott pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in the state penitentiary for killing Constable Burk.
Survivors
Constable Burk was survived by his wife and family, with an unknown number of children.
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- April 2, 2026
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- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Burk served with the Kaufman County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Kaufman community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Burk.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable John Dee Burk 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Dee Burk's cause is highlighted.
How John Dee Burk Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Dee Burk is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Dee Burk was killed by handgun.