The body of a new deputy sheriff, who had been reported missing, was found on Thursday, February 15, according to an announcement made by the police on their Facebook page.
Deputy Robert R.J. Leonard’s body was recovered from the Tennessee River by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee. The discovery concluded an intensive search operation.
Leonard had disappeared after making his first arrest in the area late on Wednesday night. His vehicle was found submerged in the river on the border of Meigs and Hamilton counties by the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office, which had joined in the search.
Leonard had been called to a disturbance involving a dispute between a man and a woman on a bridge shortly before 10 pm on Wednesday, February 14. Following the woman’s arrest, Leonard failed to report in to dispatch, triggering an immediate search. The vehicle was found overturned in the river, the driver’s side window open, and the woman’s mud-covered body was discovered in the backseat. Leonard’s body was recovered soon after.
The search operation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Chattanooga Police Department. Leonard’s remains were escorted by these agencies to the Knoxville Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.
Initial indications suggest the incident was an accident. District Attorney Russell Johnson noted the hazardous nature of the area near the bridge and suggested Leonard, possibly distracted and unfamiliar with the area, may have accidentally driven into the river. This theory is partly supported by Leonard’s last known communications: a text to his wife stating “Arrest,” followed by a garbled radio message to dispatch interpreted as “Water.” Leonard’s wife’s location-sharing app would help police with finding his last known location.
A former New Yorker, Leonard had joined the force after graduating from the academy in December. He was commended for his outstanding work on the night shift by Meigs County Sheriff Jackie Melton. The loss of Leonard has deeply impacted his colleagues, with Meigs County Chief Deputy Brian Malone expressing the shared grief of the department and acknowledging Leonard’s integration into their law enforcement family.
The incident has led to discussions about the safety of the area, particularly for those unfamiliar with its geography. A similar incident occurred a few weeks earlier when a woman was rescued from the same area.
Leonard, survived by his wife and three children residing in nearby Roane County, will be remembered by the local law enforcement and community. His commitment to his duty culminated in this unfortunate event.
