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Patrolman

Ronald Lee Leist

Algoma Police Department — Algoma, WI

Accident

End of Watch October 9, 1969

Age 30

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 106 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Ronald Leist drowned while attempting to rescue a fisherman who was swept off of the South Pier into Lake Michigan by a large wave. The victim and a friend were on the pier when a 12-foot-high wave struck them. The victim was washed into the water but the friend was able to remain on the pier. Patrolman Leist responded to the pier and was attempting to pull the victim back onto the pier when another wave struck and washed all three into the water. One of the fishermen was rescued by a good samaritan, but Patrolman Leis and the second fisherman went below the surface and did not reemerge. Officer Leist had served with the Algoma Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-FF430BFE
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.
Patrolman Leist gave the Algoma Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Algoma community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Leist.

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

Agency

Department Algoma Police Department

Location Algoma, WI

Platform Identity apd.kewaunee.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 9, 1969

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Patrolman Ronald Lee Leist is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In WI, 124 of 317 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

Algoma Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Accident

WI — Statewide

124

of 317 officers

39.1% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ronald Lee Leist'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 Ronald Lee Leist Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

Years of Service