Chaves County Sheriff's Department, New Mexico
End of Watch: Sunday, July 16, 1933
Age:
Tour of Duty: 24 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 16, 1933
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Deputy Bernard Leonard was shot and killed while he and a posse attempted to arrest a man wanted for kidnapping another officer and for robbery in Oklahoma and Colorado.
The posse surrounded a home the suspect was in and ordered everyone out. Several women and children came out, but the suspect refused. As Deputy Leonard rushed towards the door, the suspect opened fire with two .38 caliber revolvers, fatally wounding Deputy Leonard. The rest of the posse opened fire, shooting the suspect seven times. Both the suspect and Deputy Leonard succumbed to their wounds later that evening.
Deputy Leonard was a Spanish American War veteran. He had served in several law enforcement capacities in New Mexico for 24 years.