Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Leo Busch was shot and killed after he and his partner stopped four suspicious men near Grant Circle, NW, at approximately at 4 am. One of the men opened fire, striking Officer Busch six times and wounding his partner. The three suspects were apprehended and convicted of Officer Busch's murder. All three were executed in the electric chair on June 22, 1928. Officer Busch was a United States WWI Navy veteran and had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for almost two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-DC-2466CAEA- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Busch gave the Metropolitan Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Leo W. Karl Busch served in the Navy before joining law enforcement.
Officer Leo W. Karl Busch 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Metropolitan Police Department, 70 of 131 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Leo W. Karl Busch's cause is highlighted.
How Leo W. Karl Busch Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Leo W. Karl Busch is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Leo W. Karl Busch was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
130 officers from Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
