Police Officer

Burton Begay

Navajo Division of Public Safety — Window Rock, AZ
Felonious
End of Watch November 17, 1975
Age 24
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 3 mo
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Burton Begay was shot and killed after responding to a call involving a man carrying a rifle on a road near the school complex in Tuba City. Officer Begay and another officer responded to the scene and observed the suspect in front of the school. As the officers pulled up, the suspect opened fire killing Officer Begay and wounding the second officer. The suspect, 26, was apprehended a short time later. On September 26, 1977, he was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Officer Begay had served with the Navajo Division of Public Safety for 15 months was assigned to the Dilcon District.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two children, mother, and five sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqwmqaxkwt8n857z7dqn
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 Burton. 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

You barely got started.
Police Officer Begay gave the Navajo Division of Public Safety 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Window Rock community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Begay.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Window Rock, Apache County, AZ
Platform Identity ndpsdps.nn.tribal.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 17, 1975
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 3 mo
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Burton 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.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1975, 163 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 21st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Burton was 24. 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. Burton had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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 rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Navajo Division of Public Safety has 17 officers remembered here, Burton among them.

Police Officer Burton Begay

Navajo Division of Public Safety · End of Watch November 17, 1975

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 40-W

↑