John Chiska
Agency patch
Sergeant

John Chiska

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch April 5, 1928
Age 43
Tour of Duty 21 yrs
Badge 888
The Vigil Panel 55 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant John Chiska was in plainclothes when he was approached by three armed offenders who announced a robbery at 2218 North Laurel Avenue (modern-day Washtenaw Avenue) at 9:30 am. Sergeant Chiska identified himself as a police officer and arrested two of the offenders. The third gunman shot Sergeant Chiska. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. Two men were found guilty of Sergeant Chiska's murder. The first was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The second was sentenced to death and executed at the Cook County Jail on October 13th, 1939. Sergeant Chiska had served with the Chicago Police Department for 21 years, assigned to the 31st District- Cragin.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, his mother, and three brothers.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

21 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Chiska gave the Chicago Police Department 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Chiska.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 5, 1928
Tour of Duty 21 yrs
Age 43
Badge Number 888
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1928, 201 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 13th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 43. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 21 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Sergeant John Chiska

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch April 5, 1928

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 21-W

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