Police Officer. Born to Will Coffelt and Effie Keller in the town of Oranda, Virginia. He was one of five children. Leslie grew up hunting and handling firearms, and was only the second in his family to graduate from high school. Leslie was described as an excellent shot with a gun and a quiet, good humored man who was well liked. In 1928, Leslie left his hometown of Oranda to look for a job in Washington, D.C., and became a police officer with the Metropolitan Police Department in 1929. He was assigned to Precinct 3, which ran the length of K Street. In 1936, he resigned to become a building technician. He would soon meet and marry Cressie Elinor Morgan in 1937. In 1941, Leslie returned to the Metropolitan Police. In 1942 he requested and was awarded a transfer to the White House Police Force. That year, as the US entered World War II, he was drafted and assigned to B Company, 300th Infantry Regiment, United States Army. Leslie served less than two years and never made it overseas; the Army gave him a medical discharge. In 1945, he returned to duty with the White House Police Force protecting President Truman. In 1950 Leslie was fatally shot during an aborted assassination attempt against President Harry Truman at Blair House in Washington, DC. Officer Leslie Coffelt returned fire, killing his assailant. The second suspect was found guilty of murder and served 29 years in prison. This incident prompted Congress to enact legislation that permanently authorized Secret Service protection of the President, his immediate family and the Vice President. Leslie was only 40 years old at the time of his death. (bio by: Shock)  Family links:  Parents:  William A. Coffelt (1877 – 1949)  Effie Belle Keller Coffelt (1878 – 1966)  Spouse:  Cressie E. Coffelt (1912 – 1985)*  Siblings:  Norman Coffelt (1908 – 1975)*  Leslie William Coffelt (1910 – 1950)  Mildred Coffelt Good (1913 – 1999)* *Calculated relationship