I suppose it’s no secret that I’m a big fan of crime stories.

When I became enamored with Homicide: Life on the Street my dad told me I should go talk to this detective he knows. Works in Homicide for the City (StL), best detective ever. Super nice guy, he says. And he can remember every detail of every case he’s ever worked. He remembers details from cases that happened 13 years ago like it was yesterday. He’d be able to tell you all about homicide.

Sounded like a fascinating guy, but I never took the time to hunt him down. After all, what would this detective have done with a call from a daughter of a buddy saying, “Tell me ’bout death, Sargeant.” Weirdo.

Seven years later, I’m just doing my job when I’m introduced to none other than this particular Detective Sargeant I’ve heard so much about. Talk about a super nice guy. It’s hard to explain.

For example, I told him about my trip to Australia before I left, and he’d ask me about it every time I saw him. He knew I was excited about it, and was thoughtful enough to ask.

He’s the kind of guy who makes you feel special just because you’re you. The kind of guy people would walk over hot coals for.

You’d never know he was the kind of guy who worked grisly homicides for 27 years.

After he and I became acquainted, my dad let me borrow a book about the detective. I just finished it, and feel I have witnessed greatness in action.

I spoke with a client today who knows the sargeant. My client said that if we learn best through example, then we should all learn how to be human beings from Detective Sargeant Joe Burgoon. I agree.

My hat is off to Sgt. Burgoon. I want to grow up to be just like you.

Goodbye Blue Knight

by Bill Bryan
of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Today is the final roll call for St. Louis Police Detective Sgt. Joe Burgoon.

And when he goes, so goes, too, a little bit of the department’s humanity, say his many admirers.

“He’s the best homicide investigator I’ve met in my life, bar none,” said Mike Guzy, a retired police sergeant. “But his personal ethics are impeccable. He’s sincere, a devout Catholic, a team player. I just can’t say enough about him.

“Oh, yes, and he’s embarrassingly nice.”

Burgoon is being forced into mandatory retirement - he turns 65 on Wednesday - after 43 years on the force. He spent 27 of them in the Homicide Division (1969-96) in what he believed to be the unit’s longest tenure.
“He’s the best goodwill ambassador this police department has ever had,” said Sgt. Mike Roe, who has worked with Burgoon for several years in the South Patrol detective division.

In his years with Homicide, Burgoon worked on thousands of cases. Among the most memorable were the killing of five people in the former National Supermarket at 4330 Natural Bridge Avenue in 1987, and the decapitation of an unidentified girl in 1983.

He played a key role in solving the National case and spent thousands of frustrating hours trying to solve the other.

But Burgoon was known for spending just as much time on the mundane murders. “Every victim was important to him,” said Homicide Sgt. Brian McGlynn. “He was so thorough. He was such a first-class act.”

Burgoon kept contact with many survivors of homicide victims. “Joe is a sympathetic ear,” Roe said.

Sgt. John Walsh remembers being transferred to Homicide in 1991. “I idolized Joe,” Walsh said. “He knew everything. His memory was simply amazing.

“He’d recall a detail from five years ago like it was yesterday. I also admired him for his personal life. He was a gentleman off duty as well as on duty, and he treated everybody the same and everybody with respect.”

Lt. Ron Henderson, the Homicide commander, said Burgoon “is such a nice person that he’s almost too nice for this dirty business.

“But really, he’s an enigma. He worked all his cases hard. He loved his job. I think he’s only cursed twice in his life. He’s caring, compassionate, sincere. I don’t know anybody who doesn’t like Joe Burgoon.

“You simply don’t find people like him anymore.”

Said Homicide Sgt. Bob Davis: “He’s always been fair, a straight-up guy who’s never believed in short cuts. For him, there’s one way to do things, the right way.”

In his usual low-key style, Burgoon summed up his pending retirement by saying, “I can’t complain. I’ve had a good career. I’ve worked with a lot of great guys and I was fortunate to have a lot of good bosses.”

Burgoon graduated from the old McBride High School in 1957 and, after a stint in the Air Force, joined the Police Department in 1960. His father, Charles, was an officer for 33 years.

In 1972, Burgoon’s life took a tragic turn when his wife, Judy, died of viral pneumonia, leaving four children. In 1975, Burgoon married Jackie Freise and they had three children, swelling the Burgoon clan to seven. The oldest son, Tom, is with the Police Department.

Burgoon admitted there “will be a lot of adjusting to do” in his new life. He said he plans to stay busy, possibly as an investigator with a missing children’s network or maybe teaching. That would be at the Police Academy, naturally.

Wishing Sgt. Burgoon nothing but the best,
michelle