William A. Perren

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious

End of Watch November 30, 1924

Age 27

Badge 846

The Vigil Panel 48 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 570

Incident

Detective William A. Perren was shot and killed as he and two other detectives attempted to talk to several subjects in a vehicle parked in front of 8515 S Paulina Street at about 1:00 am. The detectives were on a detail looking for several subjects who had robbed and raped three women in the preceding weeks. When the detectives observed the car parked in front of the home they decided to question the occupants. The driver of the car lived at the home and mistook the detectives for criminals and believed he was about to be robbed. He opened fire on the detectives, killing Detective Perrin and wounding the other two detectives. On December 1, 1924, the man was exonerated by the Coroner.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-61745FB7
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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.
Detective Perren served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Perren.

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

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department

Location Chicago, IL

Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 30, 1924

Age 27

Badge Number 846

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Pistol

Offender Exonerated

Detective William A. Perren 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%.

At Chicago Police Department, 396 of 571 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.

Chicago Police Department

396

of 571 officers

69.4% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious