Leland Dale Anderson

Austin Police Dept. — Austin, TX

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch June 6, 1975

Age 26

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 115 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 27

Incident

Police Officer Leland Anderson was shot and killed with his own weapon at 8th Street and Congress Avenue after he stopped a van for a minor traffic violation. During the stop, three men attacked him when he attempted to arrest one of the subjects on outstanding traffic warrants. As the suspects fled in the van, they ran over Officer Leland. The three suspects were apprehended minutes later at 4th and Chalmers Streets after ramming several police cars. The suspects, ages 20, 21, and 24, were charged with capital murder. On November 14, 1975, the 24-year-old shooter was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. In 1976, the second suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison. The third suspect was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years. Officer Anderson was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and had served with the Austin Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-41EDD049
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Anderson gave the Austin Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Austin Police Dept.

Location Austin, TX

Platform Identity apd.travis.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 6, 1975

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Leland Dale Anderson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Leland Dale 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Austin Police Dept., 12 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

Austin Police Dept.

of 28 officers

42.9% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious