John Dunleavy

Pueblo Police Department — Pueblo, CO

Felonious

End of Watch July 21, 1909

The Vigil Panel 23 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Detective Sergeant John Dunleavy was shot and killed by two men who had planned his murder because of his police work. He was walking his daughter home near the end of his shift when the two men approached them and started insulting his daughter. When he moved his daughter behind him to protect her the two men pulled out pistols and shot him three times. Sergeant Dunleavy was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds four days later. Both suspects were apprehended.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-5F4D97AF
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.
Detective Sergeant Dunleavy served with the Pueblo Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pueblo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Dunleavy.

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

Agency

Department Pueblo Police Department

Location Pueblo, CO

Platform Identity ppd.pueblo.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 21, 1909

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Apprehended

Detective Sergeant John Dunleavy 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 11.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Pueblo Police Department, 7 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.3% of this agency's fallen.

Pueblo Police Department

of 12 officers

58.3% Felonious

CO — Statewide

235

of 360 officers

65.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious