Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief John Leonard and Sheriff Orville Litchfield, of the Marshall County Sheriff's Department, were shot and killed when they attempted to arrest a man for beating his wife.
The suspect escaped after the murders and was the focus of a large manhunt. He was arrested by Evanston, Illinois, detectives in July 1926.
The 60 year-old suspect was convicted of murder and died in prison on May 11, 1933.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-IL-055CA0B4- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Night Police Chief Leonard served with the Toluca Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Toluca community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Police Chief Leonard.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Night Police Chief John C. Leonard, Sr. is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John C. Leonard, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How John C. Leonard, Sr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John C. Leonard, Sr. is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John C. Leonard, Sr. was killed by gun; unknown type.