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Incident
Captain Leide DeFusco was killed in an airplane crash as he and John Barger, a retired Pueblo Police Department captain, searched for marijuana grows in the Wet Mountains.
A narcotics task force had raided two large marijuana plantations in the area two weeks earlier. The two were searching for additional growths nearby when radio contact was lost at approximately 9:30 am. A rescue team located the smoldering wreckage of the Piper Super Cruiser in rugged terrain in the San Isabel National Forest, approximately five miles below St. Charles Peak, in Custer County.
Mr. Barger was an experienced pilot who provided flight services to local law enforcement agencies.
Captain DeFusco had served in law enforcement for a total of 22 years, serving with the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office and previously served with the Pueblo Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
22 years. You could have gone home.
Captain DeFusco gave the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Pueblo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain DeFusco.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Pueblo County Sheriff's Office has lost 5 officers; 2 of them lost to accidents.
Leide is one of 101 officers lost to accidents in CO, 28% of the 361 remembered there.
Leide is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Leide is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2012, 4 officers in CO were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2012, 51 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 94th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2012, 56 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 95th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Leide was 43. Of the 79 lost to accidents in CO whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 37. Leide had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Leide was 43. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Leide had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Leide was 43. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Leide had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 10.9% of these deaths in CO; July holds the most, 11.9%. Fridays: 16.8%.
August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 15.1%.
August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 40% of all 5 deaths at Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 28% of all 361 deaths in CO, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Pueblo County Sheriff's Office has 5 officers remembered here, Leide among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 52-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Pueblo County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
