Patrolman Peter John "Sonny" Burke

Peter John "Sonny" Burke

Patrolman Peter Burke was shot and killed after being flagged down by a business owner regarding two suspicious males at 11:45 pm near the intersection of Illinois Avenue and Atlantic Avenue.

As he approached the men, one of them opened fire with a sawed-off shotgun, fatally wounding him.

One suspect was immediately arrested and ultimately acquitted. The second suspect, a member of the Black Panther Party, fled to Cuba but returned to the United States and was arrested in Miami, Florida, on September 26, 1990. He was sentenced to life for Patrolman Burke's murder and four years for unlawful flight. His parole was denied on December 30, 2005.

Patrolman Burke was one of the first officers to join the Canine Corps when it was established. He and his K9 Thor made the first canine arrest in the department's history. K9 Thor was in the patrol wagon when Patrolman Burke was shot.

Patrolman Burke was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War and Vietnam War. He had served with the Atlantic City Police Department for 15 months. He is survived by his wife, three brothers, and five sisters.