Patrolman John D. Cusson

John D. Cusson

Patrolman John Cusson was shot and killed while he and his partner were attempting to question a suspicious man in the early morning.

As they stopped to question the man, the suspect jumped into the back of the patrol car and started firing, striking Patrolman Cusson. The suspect fled on foot as the other officer emptied his pistol at him. A few hours later, the suspect was captured in a cornfield 15 miles south of Peoria. The suspect turned out to be responsible for eight robberies the previous day.

Two months later, the suspect, 24, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was also convicted of three unrelated crimes and sentenced to 30 additional years.

Patrolman Cusson was a United States Army World War II veteran and had served with the Peoria Police Department for only eight months. He was survived by his wife and 3-month-old daughter.