Rhode Island State Police, Rhode Island
End of Watch: Saturday, November 14, 1959
Age: 25
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: 96
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: November 14, 1959
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Sergeant Walter Burgess was killed in an automobile crash on Cumberland Hill Road in Woonsocket while transporting an ill prisoner to Woonsocket Hospital.
He and another trooper had arrested men and were transporting them to the state police barracks for questioning when one of the men passed out. They turned around and started responding to the hospital when a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction crossed the center line near Mendon Road and struck the patrol car head-on during a period of dense fog.
Sergeant Burgess was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He had served with the Rhode Island State Police for just over 2 years.