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Incident
Sheriff Burl Justice died from injuries received three months earlier when he was accidentally shot and killed by a child while giving a tour of the jail.
He was participating in a program where children replaced government officials for a day. He had unloaded his weapon and showed it to the children. He then reloaded it and set it down to get the jail keys. One of the children picked it up to admire it and accidentally fired it, striking Sheriff Justice in the abdomen.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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22 years. You could have gone home.
Sheriff Justice gave the Scioto County Sheriff's Office 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Portsmouth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Justice.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Scioto County Sheriff's Office has lost 5 officers; 3 of them lost to accidents.
Burl is one of 319 officers lost to accidents in OH, 32.1% of the 993 remembered there.
Burl is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Burl is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1958, 2 officers in OH were lost to accidents, the 53rd heaviest of 125 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 8.
In 1958, 50 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 96th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1958, 61 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 89th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Burl was 53. Of the 310 lost to accidents in OH whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 37. Burl had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Burl was 53. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Burl had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Burl was 53. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Burl had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 8.8% of these deaths in OH; July holds the most, 12.2%. Mondays: 16.6%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 60% of all 5 deaths at Scioto County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 32.1% of all 993 deaths in OH, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Scioto County Sheriff's Office has 5 officers remembered here, Burl among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 36-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Scioto County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
