A moment from that day was captured in a couple of photographs showing the youngster being fingerprinted by Burns in uniform. It was those photos Dustin’s family pointed to when he decided to become a trooper himself, noting that he likely had inclinations at a very young age.

“I’ve wanted to be a trooper since ninth grade so my family would comment about my desire to be a trooper started that day,” said Dustin, who added that no one knew the name of the trooper in the iconic photos.

However, the moment decades ago was so important to Dustin, a 2015 Falconer Central High School graduate, he posted one of them with his New York State Police graduation photo online. It was then that several commented on the image, stating the trooper in the shot looked a lot like “a young Dan Burns.”

The pair was eventually reunited after Dustin completed field training and was taking part in a road check in Bemus Point. Burns came up — the road check just happened to take place in front of Burns’ home — when the name rang familiar to Dustin. He showed another trooper the photograph of him being fingerprinted, and it was confirmed the man was most certainly Burns.

Dustin, who became a New York State Trooper himself, is pictured with Burns two decades later.

The two met, with Burns giving Dustin some pointers about being a road patrol trooper. They also posed for another photograph.

The moment meant a lot to Dustin, who knew by that point that Burns — then retired from the New York State Police — had become ill.

“He was a super cool guy,” said Dustin, adding that he stayed in touch with Burns and valued the advice given to him as a young trooper.

Those who knew Burns likely wouldn’t be surprised to learn of his natural ability to connect to children as well as those just getting into the law enforcement field. The lifelong Bemus Point resident was a member of the New York State Police for 28 years and also a founding member of the Chautauqua County Child Advocacy Program, a nonprofit whose mission is to end child abuse. He also coached midget football.

Burns, known for his willingness to help anyone in need, died July 4 due to cancer. He was 55.

A young Ryan Dustin is pictured, around 1999 or 2000, with Dan Burns at the Jamestown YWCA.

EARLY IMPRESSIONS

Linda Burns recalls fondly now an early date she had with her future husband. The two had met around 2008 through midget football and were on their way to a date at the Rotary Club of Jamestown when Burns heard over his police radio of a “burglar on the loose.”

“We were close by, and this burglar had just stolen money from a Chinese restaurant,” Linda Burns said. “We pulled into some random driveway, and I was listening on the police scanner that they were trying to apprehend a guy running through back yards. (Dan) was not in uniform; I just remember how fearful I was.”

After the suspect was captured, Burns returned to the vehicle. Linda Burns remembers telling her date, “That was so scary.”

She recounted later of him: “He was so fearless. All he knew was about protecting others.”

Daniel K. Burns was born in June 1966 to James and Judith Burns. He graduated from Maple Grove Junior-Senior High School in 1984 and attended Gannon University where he studied accounting. The Bemus Point native started his law enforcement career at Chautauqua Institution, moved then to the Jamestown Police Department and later graduated from the New York State Police Academy in 1989.

Burns’ father was a 25-year member of the New York State Police himself and also served as a judge for the town of Ellery.

“His father, Jim Burns, was a state trooper,” Linda Burns said. “He was in the Marines and later became judge. It’s funny, his father kind of discouraged Dan from becoming a police officer, just because it’s a dangerous, tough job. But Dan started at Chautauqua Institution as a police officer then went onto to the Jamestown Police Department.”

Once it became clear Burns was all-in on being a police officer, his father encouraged him to become a state trooper.

“He was happy at the Jamestown Police Department,” Linda Burns said. “He wasn’t inclined to become a trooper, but he took the entrance exam.”

Burns would serve in a variety of roles during his career with the State Police. He was a response trooper, investigator (including with the Community Narcotics Enforcement Team), instructor for the emergency vehicle operation course and hostage negotiator.

According to his partner, Ed Kalfas, Burns was also a “comedian, food critic, advice giver and good friend,” as well as a lifetime member of Bemus Point Volunteer Fire Department, Ellery Center Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 557 and Vikings Club.

After 28 years, Burns retired from the State Police in 2017. He then worked for National Fire Adjustment.

Though known as a hard worker, he was also a family man at heart. A popular story involving Burns is known by many of his friends. As told by his family:

“Many of those who knew Dan knew his devotion to his work and the devotion he had to his children. Dan was able to combine his two passions for a story that impacted the hearts of his children and their life-long family friends.

“Dan, Meghan and Kevin would spend many weekends boating and camping on Chautauqua Lake really giving a meaning to ‘lake life.’ Dan had just come back from a recent work training with new skills for his work to quickly distinguish if someone was guilty or lying while on the job. It was a boating weekend and it was time for the kids to go down below for our routine of games, music, snacks and movies. During that time, someone had spilled chips all over the boat. So here comes the parent crew wanting to know who made this mess. No kids wanted to fess up to the mess-making, (and) without hesitation, Dan quickly stepped in bringing all the kids to the back of the boat and starting asking each a simple question. So he asked each of us individually three questions, and lastly he asked us each what color is your bike? As each child was questioned he would say nope, not them. When it came time to one person in particular he said, ‘What color is your bike?’ Her response quickly was ‘OK it was me!’

The premise of this story left an impact on all those who were part of it, so much that Dan continued to use this technique when he thought his kids and or friends could be lying or trying to pull something over him. Coincidentally, all of the kids on the boat that day 20 years ago were still much part of Dan’s life as they became adults and typically when spending time together the reference of this day and story came to surface. Years later, his impact still remained the same to all those who were there that day. You see, Dan had a special gift, to leave a life long impact on those who knew him with powerful, lighthearted and witty lessons he loved to give to those he loved.”

‘A HARD BATTLE’

In April of last year, “shortly after COVID became a thing,” Linda Burns said her husband became ill with a fever and cough. Thinking he had the virus, Burns went to the hospital and eventually received a CT scan. The results showed that Burns had a very rare form of kidney cancer.

“There’s just no standard of care, but he still wanted to try treatment,” Linda Burns said. “We went to the Cleveland Clinic for a year; he tried eight to nine treatments but none of them worked.”

She added, “He fought a hard battle.”

Linda Burns recalls friends coming by the home to bring meals and see her husband. Many reached out wanting to help in any way possible.

Many of those who offered support were police officers. “I think the thing that really touched me, even though he retired from the State Police, there’s that fraternity of friends and family he made through that,” she said.

Some of his former coworkers brought coffee and donuts to the Burns’ home in Bemus Point. As Burns became more sick, the more his friends reached out. She recalled one particular day when she was expecting two people to show up. Instead, 20 came by and lined the street.

“It was just so emotional and touching,” Linda Burns said.

When it was learned that Burns’ latest treatment was not working, he noted to his wife that he had always wanted an American flag in the front yard of their home. While in Cleveland, his friends got together and installed the flag.

“When he got home that flag was flying. It was very touching,” Linda Burns said.

Burns passed away on Sunday, July 4. During a Celebration of Life at The Village Casino in Bemus Point, about 800 people attended. “It just shows how he was so respected,” Linda Burns said of the gathering, later adding, “We’re relieved because he’s not in pain, but we really miss him.”

A photo of a State Police vehicle in front of city hall in Jamestown with the “thin blue line” color scheme was posted by the Jamestown Police Department on Facebook after Burns’ passing. The post was widely shared online.

In addition to his wife, Burns is survived by two sons: Kevin Burns and Jeffrey Tampe; his daughter, Meghan Burns; a brother, Tim Burns; a sister, Terri Oste; a sister-in-law: Cindy Burns; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends whom he considered family.