NEWS RELEASE: March 11, 2008
FROM: The Kansas Highway Patrol
CONTACT: TechTRP Edna Buttler (785)296-6800
Cait Purinton-Day (785) 296-6800
MCI Sergeant Burton Retires from Patrol
Colonel Terry Maple, Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol, has announced that Motor Carrier Inspector Sergeant Charles W. Burton retired from the Patrol on March 7, 2008. He served the citizens of Kansas for more than 28 years.
Burton became a Motor Carrier Inspector (MCI) I with the Kansas Department of Revenue on September 4, 1979, and was assigned to the Mobile Enforcement Unit in the Leavenworth area. He was promoted to MCI II in 1980 and MCI III six months later. Burton was promoted to MCI field supervisor in 1981 and transferred to Liberal. In 1986, he returned to the Kansas City area. While a member of the Department of Revenue, Burton served as a fixed-wing aircraft pilot for the Motor Carrier Inspection Bureau. The state's MCI program transferred from the Department of Revenue to the Kansas Highway Patrol in 1988. At that time, Burton became a sergeant and was assigned as the field supervisor in Troop A, headquartered in Olathe. Burton was an MCI recruit class coach, a dyed diesel inspection instructor, and truck safety instructor for the Department of Revenue and Highway Patrol.
Burton is a graduate of Licking High School in Licking, Missouri, and he studied police science at Johnson County Community College and Barton County Community College. He also is a graduate of the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Law Enforcement Academy.
Before joining service with the State of Kansas, Burton was a patrolman with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, from 1968 to 1970. He also was a patrolman with the Overland Park Police Department from 1970 to 1978. As a member of the OPPD, he was a motorcycle officer and SWAT member, and he received two citations of merit. He served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1968, and held the rank of sergeant and helicopter crew chief. He was awarded an Air Medal, Army Commendation, Army Achievement, Good Conduct award, crew member wings, and U.S. Defense and Vietnam Service medals. Burton also served in the Kansas Army National Guard from 1982 to 1985, and held the rank of sergeant in the artillery.
Burton is an American Red Cross certified instructor for CPR and first aid. He was a member of the IFTA, Inc., Law Enforcement Committee from 1999 to 2008, and served as the committee's chair and vice chair. Burton also is a certified scuba diver.
Congratulations, Charles, on your retirement!