Long Island Police Remember Cop Who Died In Line Of Duty 48 Years Ago

LONG ISLAND, NY — The Suffolk County Police Department on Saturday poignantly remembered Officer Jack Burkhardt who died in the line of duty 48 years ago on March 15, 1977.

In a post to Facebook, police said Burkhardt and Officer Anthony Morrisette received a call of a burglary in progress at the A&P shopping center on Montauk Highway in Mastic, where the complainant reported hearing noises on the roof, and once there, Burkhardt climbed to the roof to investigate.

Morrisette continued to check the building from the ground, and after finding no signs of a ground-level break-in, he returned to the area where Burkhardt had climbed to the roof and found him unconscious, according to police.

Burkhardt had fallen off the roof, and was rushed to the hospital, where he remained for five days before succumbing to his injuries, police said.

Suffolk's PBA honored Burkhardt's "life and sacrifice" dying in the line of duty "while serving his community," "despite every effort" to save his life, according to a post on Facebook.

"We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends and express our heartfelt gratitude for his selfless service and dedication," the post concluded.

Burkhardt is survived by his wife and three children.