John Vondruska

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Felonious

End of Watch January 1, 1931

Badge 6048

The Vigil Panel 61 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 570

Incident

Patrolman John Vondruska was shot and killed when he tried to prevent an armed robbery of $8,000 at the Yellow Cab Company garage at Leamington Avenue and Flournoy Street. The gunmen drove up to the garage just before 7:00 a.m. and confronted Patrolman Vondruska at his post. When the gunmen commanded "Stick them up," Patrolman Vondruska opened fire. One of the gunmen, armed with a machine gun, opened fire and killed him. The 24-year-old man was arrested at a local hospital where he went with a gunshot wound to his leg. He said he was shot by an unknown person as he was walking down the street. A witness identified him and he was charged with Patrolman Vondruska's murder. A cab driver was shot in the legs as he attempted to assist Patrolman Vondruska. Patrolman Vondruska was assigned to the Fillmore Street Station.

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

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Vondruska served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Vondruska.

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

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Chicago, Cook County, IL

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

Service Record

End of Watch January 1, 1931

Badge Number 6048

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1931, 221 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month

By day of the week

III

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded