Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable James Burr suffered a fatal heart attack while attempting to arrest a drunk driver on Route 20 in Dola, West Virginia.
He had radioed the West Virginia State Police for assistance with transporting the prisoner to jail. When the trooper arrived he discovered Constable Burr on the ground with a cut over his right eye. He took the prisoner into custody and located a blackjack in his pocket, but the man claimed not to have assaulted Constable Burr.
An autopsy determined that Constable Burr suffered a fatal heart attack while arguing with the prisoner.
Constable Burr was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Constable Burr was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-WV-7B38CD6A- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Burr served with the Harrison County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Clarksburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Burr.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable James William Burr is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In WV, 7 of 232 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 4%.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James William Burr's cause is highlighted.
How James William Burr Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. James William Burr is highlighted in Sep.