Police Officer Ronald F. McLeod

Ronald F. McLeod

Officer Ronald McLeod was shot from his motorcycle and killed when he stopped to question a robbery suspect at the intersection of N. Miami Street and 13th Court. The suspect was captured a week later in Memphis, Tennessee, after a gun battle with police.

On the return trip to Florida, with two Dade County Deputies in a marked patrol car, near Oxford, Alabama, the suspect managed to grab one of deputie's service revolver. He forced them to pull off the road and flag down a passing motorist. He handcuffed the motorist and one deputy to the patrol car and then forced the other deputy drive him away. Minutes later several Alabama State Troopers intercepted the patrol car. During a 50 mile pursuit the suspect fired several shots at the troopers. The troopers would not fire back for fear of hitting the deputy. The deputy crashed the car near Pell City, Alabama. Finding himself surrounded by several Troopers, the suspect gave up.

The 22-year-old suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death October 16, 1970. His sentence was later commuted to life. As of November 15, 2020, the suspect was still in prison.

Officer McLeod had been with the agency for nine years and had previously served with the United States Air Force in Japan. He was survived by his wife and three children.