Killed in the Line of Duty 129 Years Ago Today

August 25, 2012 — The Salt Lake City Police Department today remembers the loss of one its own: Marshal Andrew H. Burt, killed in the line of duty August 25, 1883.

A deranged man murdered Marshal Burt in downtown Salt Lake City. Accompanied by the city water master, the 54-year-old victim was searching for a suspect who had earlier threatened the life of a local merchant. When they located the suspect at 200 S. Main, the suspect shot Marshal Burt with a .45-70 caliber rifle.

Despite his own wounds, the city water master managed to disarm the suspect. Officers took the man to the city jail where a large mob soon gathered. The mob stormed the jail and lynched the suspect, dragging his body through the streets behind a team of horses.

Marshal Burt was married and the father of a large number of children. He is buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery.

To learn more about our Fallen Officers, please visit police.slc.gov/newsroom/fallen.

###