Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, Colorado
End of Watch Friday, August 31, 2012
Add to My HeroesLeide William DeFusco
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. He is survived by his wife and four children.
Bio
- Age 43
- Tour 22 years
- Badge Unit 7
Incident Details
- Cause Aircraft accident
Most Recent Reflection
View all 180 ReflectionsLeido,
I miss and think about you everyday. I know as much as Wendy and your children and the rest of your family, but you had a huge impact on me, my family, the community and the baby Narc’s that you trained. You truly brought people together.
I can see the snow slide from my house and think about you everyday. Especially on this date, 08/31. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years.
I’ll work hard, earn peoples trust and live like you did. You would have wanted that.
Miss ya Brotha.
Pueblo Officer
LEO
August 31, 2022
Recent LODD Deaths
![Zane Coolidge](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27137/police-officer-zane-coolidge.jpg)
Police Officer Zane Coolidge
Phoenix Police Department, AZ
EOW: September 6, 2024
![James Crowley](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27133/c_crowley_james_.jpg)
Patrolman James Crowley
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: August 22, 2024
![Phylicia Carson](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27128/c_phylicia-carson-2.jpg)
Officer Phylicia Carson
Osage Beach Police Department, MO
EOW: August 31, 2024
![Darron Lee Burks](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27127/c_burks.jpg)
Police Officer Darron Lee Burks
Dallas Police Department, TX
EOW: August 29, 2024
![Wayne David](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27126/investigator-wayne-david.jpg)
Investigator Wayne David
Metropolitan Police Department, DC
EOW: August 28, 2024
![Austin Machitar](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27125/c_austin-machitar.jpg)
Police Officer Austin Machitar
San Diego Police Department, CA
EOW: August 26, 2024
![Taylor Jaimeson Bristow](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27123/investigator-taylor-bristow.jpg)
Investigator Taylor Jaimeson Bristow
Carroll County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW: August 23, 2024
![Brandon Cunningham](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27118/c_deputy_brandon_cunningham.jpg)
Deputy Sheriff Brandon Cunningham
Paulding County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW: August 17, 2024
![Hunter Scott Miller](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27117/c_hunter-miller.jpg)
Correctional Officer Hunter Scott Miller
Kentucky Department of Corrections, KY
EOW: July 25, 2024