Prev Next
James J. Burke
Agency patch
Detective

James J. Burke

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Felonious
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch December 13, 1946
Age 49
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Badge 496
The Vigil Panel 184 · Column 4 · Line 7 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

James J. Burke was a plumber before he joined the New York City Police Department on 5 May 1922. He was promoted to detective on 5 June 1925 and to first grade on 1 October 1929, and he spent his whole career at the Bathgate Avenue station house in the Bronx, with the 48th Squad. He carried shield 496, was a member of the Honor Legion, held several citations, and was regarded as one of the most intelligent and popular men in the department.

After a wave of armed robberies, Bronx detectives were hidden inside shops likely to be hit. On 13 December 1946 Detective Burke was waiting behind packing cases at the back of Ray's Liquor Store at 1439 Webster Avenue when, at about seven minutes past six in the evening, two armed men walked in and announced a hold-up. He came out with his gun drawn and fired, and one of the robbers fired back. He was struck twice in the head and died at the scene. The robbers fled without any money.

He was 49, unmarried, and lived on East 163rd Street. Thousands attended his funeral at St. Joseph's Church near his station house, and he was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Queens. In February 1947 investigators identified George Moore and Raymond Haughton; Moore confessed and named Haughton as the gunman.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqp0gf06phxg4d1cq6ex
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

25 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Burke gave the New York City Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Burke.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch December 13, 1946
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Age 49
Badge Number 496
Gender Male
Assignment 48 Squad

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1946, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 49. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. James had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective James J. Burke

New York City Police Department · End of Watch December 13, 1946

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 63-E

↑