Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Blankenship was shot and killed while riding in a posse that was searching for several inmates who had just escaped from the county jail. The inmates setup an ambush about three miles from Waco. As the posse approached the suspects opened fire on them. The posse returned fire and in the ensuing shootout Deputy Blankenship was mortally wounded. The suspects were all apprehended. The man who prisoner identified as the person who shot Deputy Blankenship was shot and killed as he tried to escape from the posse a second time.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-47D2D8AE- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
153 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Blankenship served with the McLennan County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Waco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Burwell J. "Burt" Blankenship 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%.
At McLennan County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Burwell J. "Burt" Blankenship's cause is highlighted.
How Burwell J. "Burt" Blankenship Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Burwell J. "Burt" Blankenship is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Burwell J. "Burt" Blankenship was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from McLennan County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
