Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Sunday, June 9, 1929
Age: 38
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: 4558
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 9, 1929
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Released in 1952
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.
Patrolman Leonard was survived by his wife and four children.