John Nerad

Cicero Police Department — Cicero, IL

Felonious

End of Watch July 28, 1929

Age 40

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Badge 30

The Vigil Panel 57 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Detective Sergeant John Nerad succumbed to gunshot wounds suffered three weeks earlier while attempting to question two suspicious individuals in an alley on the north side of 25th Street, between 51st Avenue and 52nd Avenue. Detective Sergeant Nerad was off duty, running errands with his wife when he saw the two men. He exited his vehicle and identified himself as a police officer. The two men immediately attacked him and knocked him to the ground. As he fell he drew his weapon and fired at the suspects, one of whom also drew a weapon. The suspect shot Detective Sergeant Nerad in the back three times as he lay on the ground. Detective Sergeant Nerad's killer was eventually arrested and charged with his murder. On June 22nd, 1932, he shot and killed Guard Leo G. Nicholas in the Cook County Jail with a smuggled handgun. When cornered by other guards he shot and killed himself. Detective Sergeant Nerad had served with the Cicero Police Department for 14 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-FC0E33D7
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Sergeant Nerad gave the Cicero Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cicero community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Nerad.

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

Agency

Department Cicero Police Department

Location Cicero, IL

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

Service Record

End of Watch July 28, 1929

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 40

Badge Number 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Committed suicide in jail

Detective Sergeant John Nerad 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 Cicero Police Department, 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.

Cicero Police Department

of 5 officers

40% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious