Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer John Anderson succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained six weeks earlier when he and another officer responded to a suicidal person's call. A female had called the police department and stated her boyfriend was going to kill her and then commit suicide. Officer Anderson arrived on the scene and was shot through the door as the officers knocked on it. The suspect was apprehended after a gunfight with officers. The suspect, 27, was sent to prison. On April 3, 1975, he was charged with aiding and abetting in another inmates escape. The inmate was serving a life term for the murder of Trooper Steven DeVries on October 12, 1972. Officer Anderson had served with the Wayne Police Department for 5 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-7CFFD150- 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.
Police Officer Anderson gave the Wayne Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wayne community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Anderson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Leonard John Anderson 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 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. Leonard John Anderson's cause is highlighted.
How Leonard John Anderson Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Leonard John Anderson is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Leonard John Anderson was killed by shotgun.