Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Thomas Leis died from complications related to carbon monoxide poisoning received on October 4th, 1988, at the Port of Miami.
He suffered the poisoning while assisting with the rescue of several crewmembers from the hold of a ship. Two crewmembers died, and several others became seriously ill. Seven firefighters and one other police officer were also overcome by the fumes but recovered after receiving treatment.
Lieutenant Leis received recognition for his bravery in his efforts to save the crewmembers during the incident.
Lieutenant Leis had served with the Metro-Dade Police Department for 17 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and five daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-F7A65553- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lieutenant Leis gave the Metro-Dade Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Miami community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Leis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Thomas James Leis is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In FL, 313 of 1,008 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.1% of this state's fallen. That is 31.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Metro-Dade Police Department, 9 of 25 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 36% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas James Leis's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas James Leis Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas James Leis is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
24 officers from Metro-Dade Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
