Leonard M. Todd
Agency patch
Sergeant

Leonard M. Todd

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
End of Watch January 16, 1974
Age 32
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Badge S-1084
The Vigil Panel 113 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Leonard Todd and Police Officer Edward Pakula were shot and killed after responding to a call of a barricaded gunman. As soon as they arrived at the gunman's home at 14021 Mayfield Street, they were met with a hail of bullets. Two other officers were seriously wounded before the suspect was talked into giving himself up. The suspect had been under psychiatric care for several months and was found with more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The suspect pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 40 to 80 years on June 4, 1974. He died in prison on June 27, 1975. Sergeant Todd had served with the Detroit Police Department for 11 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and and child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-9EE756C2
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.
Sergeant Todd gave the Detroit Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Todd.

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

Agency

Location Detroit, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 16, 1974
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 32
Badge Number S-1084
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle; M-1
Offender Sentenced to 40-80 years

Sergeant Leonard M. Todd 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%.

At Detroit Police Department, 177 of 250 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.8% of this agency's fallen.

Detroit Police Department
177
of 250 officers
70.8% Felonious
MI — Statewide
426
of 718 officers
59.3% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Leonard M. Todd's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Leonard M. Todd Compares

Age at End of Watch
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
11
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 40-80 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Leonard M. Todd is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Leonard M. Todd was killed by rifle; m-1.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location