John William Burk

In the late winter of 1918, the community of Talladega, Alabama, was struck by the loss of one of its own lawmen. John William Burk, a 36-year-old male Chief Deputy Sheriff, was killed in the line of duty on Tuesday, February 26, 1918. His death was the result of a violent encounter with a man he was attempting to apprehend. The incident cut short a career of three years of service with the Talladega County Sheriff's Department.

The events leading to the fatal shooting began a few nights ...

Chief Deputy Sheriff John William Burk