Kingsport Police Department, Tennessee
End of Watch: Tuesday, June 13, 1950
Age: 48
Tour of Duty: 21 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 13, 1950
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Patrolman Ira Burgess was shot and killed when he and a police captain responded to reports of a man threatening to kill his wife at 1446 Willow Street.
When they arrived at the man's house they began to take cover but the man came out with a shotgun and opened fire. Patrolman Burgess was shot as he attempted to draw his pistol. The suspect was then shot and killed by a city workhouse guard who was supervising a nearby work crew.
Patrolman Burgess had served with the Kingsport Police Department for five years and had previously served as a part-time deputy for the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office for 16 years.