Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Michael Kick succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two days earlier as he and several officers were conducting surveillance on a group of six burglars at a saloon. The suspects came out of the saloon near the intersection of Monroe Street and Pearl Street and started threatening the officers. The suspects opened fire, striking Patrolman Kick in the chest. The suspects were arrested but never charged with Patrolman Kick's murder. The primary suspect escaped jail in June 1875 and was never apprehended. Patrolman Kick was a United States Army Civil War veteran assigned to the US Missouri unit and had served with the Cleveland Police Department for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and four children. Patrolman Kick was the first officer of the CPD killed in the line of duty since its creation in 1866. He is buried in Section M, Lot 74 of the Monroe Street Cemetery, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-3823D703- 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 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 Kick gave the Cleveland Division of Police 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Michael Kick served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman John Michael Kick 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cleveland Division of Police, 83 of 119 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Michael Kick's cause is highlighted.
How John Michael Kick Compares
Offender Outcome
Never charged
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Michael Kick is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Michael Kick was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
118 officers from Cleveland Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
