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Earl K. Leonard
Agency patch
Patrolman

Earl K. Leonard

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
United States flag Illinois flag
End of Watch June 9, 1929
Age 38
Badge 4558
The Vigil Panel 129 · Column 4 · Line 1 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 570

Incident

Patrolman Earl K. Leonard was shot and killed during a traffic stop. He had stopped a traffic violator and was in the process of an arrest when a friend of the offender approached and shot him at the intersection of Lotus Avenue and Madison Street. The 21-year-old suspect was arrested, convicted of first-degree murder, and sentenced to life in prison. On September 15th, 1939, during an escape attempt he and two other lifers slipped drugs into the coffee of 11 guards leaving two in critical condition. On September 29th, 1952, he was released from prison after it was determined the trial judge gave an instruction to the jury that was ruled unconstitutional in 1935.

Survivors

Patrolman Leonard was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Leonard served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Leonard.

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

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 9, 1929
Age 38
Badge Number 4558
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Earl is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1929, 205 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 12th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Earl was 38. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Earl among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Earl K. Leonard

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch June 9, 1929

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 15-W

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