Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND002 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 02978
Title: Burkett M. Miller
Date:
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 10/31/1900
Summary: Burkett M. Miller Ray Chief of Police May 18th, 1966 Chief of Police Burkett Miller of Ray was fatally injured when struck by a high school youth driving a stolen car. Miller, a highly respected law enforcement officer, was pronounced dead on arrival at Mercy Hospital within an hour after he was struck by the car. Miller was standing by his car, parked on the north shoulder of Highway 2 on the east side of Ray in a driving rain, when he was struck and tossed through the air and into the south ditch of the highway. The youth reportedly attempted to reduce his speed--reported at 100 miles an hour or more when he was being pursued by Officer Ron Ulrich of the Highway Patrol--but lost control of the car and it swerved into the south ditch, went back across the highway and into the north ditch. Ulrich arrested the suspect at gunpoint. He was trying to start the stolen vehicle and get back on the highway. The youth was uninjured. Ulrich, in Williston at the time of the reported car theft, began driving east on Highway 2 in an attempt to stop the car thief, then unknown. East of Tioga, the westbound car passed him at a high rate of speed and the officer took up the chase. Seeing that he wasn't gaining in the heavy rain, the officer asked for assistance via the Williston Police Department radio and Miller was contacted. Chief Miller was not manning a roadblock, he was standing off the pavement of the road, a red light flashing from his car and waiving a small red flag. However, apparently seeing the oncoming car wasn't going to stop in time and perhaps might ram his vehicle, Miller reportedly started running south across the highway when he was struck by the left front fender and light of the stolen car. Seconds later, Ulrich came on the scene and seeing the car in the north ditch, raced to it and arrested the suspect. He was unaware of Miller being struck until he took the youth into custody. Miller, Chief in Ray for several years, came from Anamoose where he was also Chief of Police. His death was the first traffic fatality in Williams County since 1964. Burkett M. Miller was born October 31, 1900, at Litchfield, MN, and moved with his parents to Lostwood, ND, where he was raised and educated. He was married to Ruth Welch in 1922 and they moved to Stanley in 1940. In 1955 they moved to Anamoose where he was Chief of Police and in 1960 he accepted the same position in Ray, where he had since lived. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, three sons, 21 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, two sisters, and one brother. He was preceded in death by one daughter.
Red ID: FND_I_77315 Image ID: 509135 Image Notes: 10950 00002 02978

Collection: FND002 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program
Date:

Summary: The North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program honors fallen officers with highlights of their lives and careers.

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