Derrick Leto

Worcester Police Department — Worcester, MA

Suicide Veteran Honored

End of Watch March 17, 2023

Age 42

The Vigil Panel 181 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Biography

Tonight we honor Sgt. Derrick Leto of the Worcester Police Department who died by suicide on March 17, 2023, after 18 years of service. After graduating from North High School, Derrick earned his master’s degree from Anna Maria College in Criminal Justice. He proudly served his country as a United States Marine. Sgt. Leto dedicated 18 years of his life to the Worcester Police Department and became the department’s Diversity Officer. Over the last year of his career, he started Worcester’s first Cadet and Explorer programs which has had a profound effect on the youth of the community. He selflessly volunteered his time, whenever he was able, to the Second Baptist Church and the Friendly House. Derrick inspired everyone from strangers to his brothers and sisters here at the police department. In Derrick’s free time, he enjoyed playing all sports, riding his Harley with the Blue Knight’s, boxing, poker, and traveling, especially to the Caribbean, with his family. Derrick had a very special place in his heart for his dogs, Rocky and Tyson. Above all, he loved his family and cherished every moment he spent with them. He leaves behind many who love and will miss him terribly including his wife, Nichole (Gallagher) Leto; his children, Mickey and Damon Leto; a sister, Anna Leto of Worcester, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Donna and John Gallagher of Barre; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Thank you, Sgt. Leto for your devoted service. Special thanks to his family for having the courage to share him with us.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-EB22A03A
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

Officer Derrick Leto served with the Worcester Police Department.
Thank you for your service, and for your service before it. We will always remember your sacrifice.
You belong on this wall. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Worcester Police Department

Location Worcester, MA

Platform Identity worcpd.worcester.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 17, 2023

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Suicide

Military Service

Derrick Leto served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Derrick Leto is one of 256 officers honored for deaths connected to the weight of the job across the full record of this memorial — 0.8% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MA, 9 of 469 officers were honored for deaths connected to the weight of the job — 1.9% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0.8%.

At Worcester Police Department, 1 of 9 officers on record were honored for deaths connected to the weight of the job — 11.1% of this agency's fallen.

Worcester Police Department

of 9 officers

11.1% Suicide

MA — Statewide

of 469 officers

1.9% Suicide

Nationwide

256

of 32,508 officers

0.8% Suicide