After a rash of brazen, armed robberies in the City, the C.O. of the Bronx Detectives devised a plan to install his men in shops likely to be hit. On December 13, 1946, Det. James J. Burke of the 48 Squad was planted at Ray’s Liquor store at 1439 Webster Avenue in The Bronx between 171st and 172nd Streets. After about an hour, at approximately 6:07 p.m., two armed subjects entered the store and announced their hold-up. The only other person in the shop — the son of the store owner — ducked down behind the counter while Det. Burke came out from the back of the store where he was hiding behind a pile of packing cases. He had his firearm drawn and got off shots. One of the perps returned his volley, and Burke was struck in the head by two bullets. He died at the scene. Although the shop was riddled with holes, and the police only wound up with a limited description of the perps who escaped, they ran without any money. Burke’s sudden death hit the City hard, as he was highly decorated, known personally by Police Commissioner Arthur Wallander, and was described by the Bronx District Attorney as, “one of the most intelligent men” he knew and one of his closest friends. A Squad of about 35 Detectives was quickly assembled to scour the area for the subjects. Thousands of colleagues and mourners attended Det. Burke’s funeral at St. Joseph’s RC Church near the stationhouse where Burke labored for more than 20 years. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Queens. Det. Burke had been a plumber before he joined the Police Department on May 5, 1922. He was promoted to Detective on June 5, 1925, and quickly jumped to first grade on October 1, 1929. He spent his entire career attached to the Bathgate Avenue stationhouse in The Bronx. At the time of his death, he was single and lived on East 163rd Street in The Bronx. He was 49-years-old, a member of the NYPD Honor Legion, and held several Departmental citations and commendations. He was described in the New York Times as “one of the most popular members of the Police Department.” Burke’s death did not stop the tide of armed robberies, often resulting in killings, and Detectives continued to be planted inside various establishments where it was likely thugs would strike. In February of 1947, a comment by a burglary suspect set Investigators on the trail of 34-year-old George Moore and 24-year-old Raymond Haughton as likely to have committed the Burke killing. After a grilling by no other than the PC himself, Moore confessed and implicated Haughton as the shooter of Burke. They were both ex-cons with significant rap sheets. They were held without bail as suspects in Burke’s killing. Six others were held as material witnesses. After an investigation, the perps were quickly indicted and charged with first degree murder. It took a jury only 35 minutes to convict both perps after a trial that lasted nine days. Burke’s brother cried when the guilty verdict was announced. On April 14, 1947, the death penalty was handed down to both criminals. Although they appealed the case, they lost, and both Moore and Haughton were executed on July 22, 1948, at Sing Sing. Read more about Det. Burke on the DEA's website.