Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Leslie Ward was shot and killed after stopping a man in a hit-and-run accident.
Officer Ward observed the accident at an intersection and shouted for the suspect to stop. After a short chase, the suspect stopped and opened fire on Officer Ward and a state trooper. Officer Ward was killed and the trooper was seriously wounded. The trooper managed to return fire, killing the 33-year-old suspect.
Officer Ward was survived by his wife and nine children.
Survivors
Officer Ward was survived by his wife and nine children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-71C47839- 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.
Patrol Officer Ward served with the Morehead Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Morehead community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Ward.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrol Officer J. Leslie Ward 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. J. Leslie Ward's cause is highlighted.
How J. Leslie Ward Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. Leslie Ward is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. J. Leslie Ward was killed by gun; unknown type.