Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Leonard Miller was shot and killed after stopping a car that had sped past him twice. He was shot twice in the chest as he approached the vehicle. The two suspects, both 21, were apprehended. It was soon determined the two had been on what was labeled a "kill for thrill" spree for the past eight days. The bullet-riddled bodies of a 26-year-old single mother and two men, 32 and 49, had been found in different locations in and near Apollo Borough. A few days earlier, as they aimed to shoot a 35-year-old female employee in a convenience store, the attempt was foiled by two men who entered the store. Both were convicted of four counts of murder and sentenced to death. Both had their convictions overturned in 1991 and 1996. Both were retried and again sentenced to death. Their appeals for new trials were denied in 2011 and 2012. One of the subjects died in prison on September 3, 2017. In 2021 the other was still on death row. He is Pennsylvania's longest-serving death row inmate. Patrolman Miller's murder occurred on his third day as a full-time officer with the Apollo Police Department. He had previously served as a part-time officer for the Apollo Police Department and Vandergrift Police Departments for 2.5 years. He was survived by his parents. He is buried in the Riverview Cemetery, Apollo, Pennsylvania. In 2005 the Apollo Bridge was renamed the Leonard C. Miller Bridge.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-7B2335E0- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Miller gave the Apollo Borough Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Apollo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Miller.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Leonard Clifford Miller is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Leonard Clifford Miller's cause is highlighted.
How Leonard Clifford Miller Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Leonard Clifford Miller is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Leonard Clifford Miller was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.