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John William Leatherbury Jr.
Incident
Private John Leatherbury was killed in a police helicopter accident while assisting officers who were searching a bank building that had been found with an open door. The Hughes 300 helicopter was hovering over the bank when its main rotor blades struck power lines and crashed onto a parking deck at Iverson Mall. Private Leatherbury and the civilian pilot were both killed instantly. The police department was leasing the helicopter for a three week period as it evaluated whether or not to start a helicopter unit.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Private Leatherbury served with the Prince George's County Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Palmer Park community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Private Leatherbury.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Prince George's County Police Department has lost 30 officers; 11 of them lost to accidents.
John is one of 141 officers lost to accidents in MD, 37.3% of the 378 remembered there.
John is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
John is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1968, 1 officer at Prince George's County Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1968, 2 officers in MD were lost to accidents, the 12th heaviest of 88 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 6.
In 1968, 100 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 6th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1968, 117 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
John was 26. Of the 11 lost to accidents at Prince George's County Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 26 and 36; the middle age was 27.
John was 26. Of the 133 lost to accidents in MD whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 42; the middle age was 33.
John was 26. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.
John was 26. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
March holds 36.4% of these deaths at Prince George's County Police Department, more than any other month. Thursdays: 18.2%.
March holds 7.1% of these deaths in MD; October holds the most, 15.6%. Thursdays: 16.3%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 36.7% of all 30 deaths at Prince George's County Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 37.3% of all 378 deaths in MD, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Prince George's County Police Department has 30 officers remembered here, John among them.
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Edward Dennis Merson
Sep 1, 1937
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Charles F. Caldwell
Jun 12, 1948
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Alfred W. Steinat
May 2, 1963
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Joseph Kelly Brown, Sr.
Feb 19, 1966
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John William Leatherbury, Jr.
Mar 21, 1968
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Robert E. Yeszerski
Nov 30, 1968
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William W. Gullett, Jr.
Feb 16, 1969
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Carroll D. Garrison
Feb 20, 1973
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Albert Marshal Claggett, IV
Jun 26, 1978
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James Brian Swart
Jun 26, 1978
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Antonio Martinez Kelsey
Feb 2, 1980
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Raymond Hubbard
Feb 8, 1982
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Allan Dale Johnson
Dec 8, 1982
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Carlton X. Fletcher
Jun 12, 1983
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Richard J. Beavers
Nov 29, 1983
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Mark Kevin Murphy
Sep 1, 1988
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Harry Leroy Kinikin, Jr.
Jan 13, 1990
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Ryan Christopher Johnson, Sr.
Apr 22, 1992
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Roger Peck Fleming
Oct 27, 1992
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John Louis Bagileo
Feb 28, 1994
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John J. Novabilski
Apr 26, 1995
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Kilonzo Musili Masembwa
Nov 10, 2000
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Anthony Michael Walker
Nov 15, 2003
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Steven Francis Gaughan
Jun 21, 2005
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Richard Scott Findley
Jun 27, 2008
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Thomas Paul Jensen
Mar 9, 2010
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Adrian Antonio Morris
Aug 20, 2012
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Brennan Roger Rabain
Mar 7, 2015
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Jacai David Colson
Mar 13, 2016
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Mujahid Abdul Mumin Ramzziddin
Feb 21, 2018
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
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Others Who Wore This Badge
29 officers from Prince George's County Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
