At Rest
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In loving memory
Leonard W “Butch” Porter
United States · Aged 61 · Died 04/30/2002
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How they died
Vehic/Purs
Officer Michael D. Cruse was driving at least 53 mph in a 35 mph zone without lights or siren when he ran a stop sign and struck Leonard W. "Butch" Porter's pickup truck, killing Porter. Cruse and officer Roger A. Smith had responded in separate cars to a burglar alarm at Cargill Inc. and found evidence of a break-in. Another burglar alarm call then came in from Kanequip Inc. The officers thought it might be related to the first alarm and that they had a chance to "catch the bad guys," Smith said. Cruse ran a stop sign at NW Silver Lake Road and struck Porter's westbound truck just before 5 a.m. The second alarm turned out to be false. Cruse was fired on June 17, and was charged with unintentional and reckless involuntary manslaughter, along with failure to obey a traffic device, speeding and a seat belt infraction.
Alleged responsible partyTopeka Police DepartmentReported by the cited sources. “Alleged” is used pending verification.
Why we remember them
This record exists so that Leonard W “Butch” Porter, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.
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