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Patrolman

Edward L. Burns

New York Municipal Police — New York City, NY
Felonious
United States flag
End of Watch December 2, 1873
Age 37
Tour of Duty 7 mo
The Vigil Panel 4 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 20

Incident

Patrolman Edward Burns was killed when he was struck in the head by a suspect he was walking to the station house.

Patrolman Burns responded with several other Patrolmen to a complaint about a large group of men on Broome Street. The group assaulted the Patrolmen, and Patrolman Burnes was killed.

Patrolman Burns had only served with the New York Municipal Police Department for seven months. He had previously served with the Philadelphia Police Department.

Patrolman Burns was assigned to the 8th Precinct, which is the modern day 1st Precinct.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
NW-ZSBJ-5QYR-G earlier record number BO-US-NY-1A665866
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

153 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Burns served with the New York Municipal Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department New York Municipal Police
Type Police Department
Location New York City, NY
Platform Identity nymunpd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 2, 1873
Tour of Duty 7 mo
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Assault
Weapon Person

Patrolman Edward L. Burns is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,776 officers honored here.

At New York Municipal Police, 16 of 21 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.2% of this agency's fallen.

New York Municipal Police
16
of 21 officers
76.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,776 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Edward L. Burns Compares

Age at Death
37
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.6
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edward L. Burns is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edward L. Burns was killed by person.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-W

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