John Howard LeCompte
Agency patch
Patrolman

John Howard LeCompte

Arnold Police Department — Arnold, MO
Felonious
End of Watch November 21, 1976
Age 44
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 117 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman John LeCompte succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained 29 days earlier when he was shot with his own service weapon during a struggle with a burglary suspect in the 2100 block of Dudler Drive. Police dragged the suspect from the Maramec River the next day after he was wounded in an exchange of gunfire. Patrolman LeCompte remained hospitalized from the time of the shooting until succumbing to his wounds.

Survivors

Patrolman LeCompte had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his two young daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-D55C30C7
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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.
Patrolman LeCompte gave the Arnold Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Arnold community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman LeCompte.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Arnold, Jefferson County, MO
Platform Identity apd.jefferson.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 21, 1976
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Patrolman John Howard LeCompte is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Arnold Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Arnold Police Department
1
of 2 officers
50% Felonious
MO — Statewide
516
of 813 officers
63.5% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Howard LeCompte's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How John Howard LeCompte Compares

Age at Death
44
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Howard LeCompte is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Howard LeCompte was killed by officer's handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Arnold Police Department are honored on badge.nw.