John D. Cusson

Peoria Police Department — Peoria, IL

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch August 26, 1947

Age 22

Tour of Duty 8 mo

The Vigil Panel 83 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 14

Incident

Patrolman John Cusson was shot and killed while he and his partner were attempting to question a suspicious man in the early morning. As they stopped to question the man, the suspect jumped into the back of the patrol car and started firing, striking Patrolman Cusson. The suspect fled on foot as the other officer emptied his pistol at him. A few hours later, the suspect was captured in a cornfield 15 miles south of Peoria. The suspect turned out to be responsible for eight robberies the previous day. Two months later, the suspect, 24, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was also convicted of three unrelated crimes and sentenced to 30 additional years. Patrolman Cusson was a United States Army World War II veteran and had served with the Peoria Police Department for only eight months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and 3-month-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-E0A0165C
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Cusson served with the Peoria Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Peoria community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Peoria Police Department

Type Other

Location Peoria, Peoria County, IL

Platform Identity ppd.peoria.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 26, 1947

Tour of Duty 8 mo

Age 22

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

John D. Cusson served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman John D. Cusson is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Peoria Police Department, 9 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Peoria Police Department

of 15 officers

60% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious