James Martin Leach

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, MO

Felonious

End of Watch May 2, 1992

Age 38

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Badge 310

The Vigil Panel 138 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 119

Incident

Sergeant James Leach was killed when he was struck by a drunk driver as he was blocking a street filled with pedestrian traffic at Westport Road and Mill Street in Kansas City. The driver intentionally sped up and smashed into the barricade, hitting Sergeant Leach and a 21-year-old man. The impact sent their bodies more than 85-90 feet away. The driver did not apply his brakes and continued driving through the closed street at 45-50 miles per hour, maneuvering around people walking. The driver, who fled the scene, was involved in a second accident during a pursuit and then attempted to flee on foot but was arrested. The 27-year-old suspect was convicted of Sergeant Leach's murder, two counts of second-degree murder, and two counts of armed criminal action. He was subsequently sentenced to serve two life terms. He was denied parole in 2004. Sergeant Leach had served with the Kansas City Police Department for 14 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-BB8A3666
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 Leach gave the Kansas City Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Leach.

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

Agency

Department Kansas City Police Department

Location Kansas City, MO

Platform Identity kcpd.jackson.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 2, 1992

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 38

Badge Number 310

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Denied parole in 2004

Sergeant James Martin Leach 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Kansas City Police Department, 72 of 120 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Kansas City Police Department

of 120 officers

60% Felonious

MO — Statewide

516

of 813 officers

63.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious