Leonard Nelson
Agency patch
Officer

Leonard Nelson

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA
Felonious
End of Watch May 18, 1938
Age 30
The Vigil Panel 74 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Nelson and his partner were conducting a field sobriety test on a suspected drunk driver when a second driver entered the area. Both Officer Nelson and the original drunk driver were killed.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
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.
Officer Nelson served with the California Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Nelson.

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

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 18, 1938
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1938, 111 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 45th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Leonard was 30. 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

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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 automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

California Highway Patrol has at least 120 officers remembered here, Leonard among them.

Across the years

Officer Leonard Nelson

California Highway Patrol · End of Watch May 18, 1938

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-W

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