Officer Willis Wood "Johnny" Sides

Officer Willis Wood
Dallas Police Department, Texas
Officer Willis Wood "Johnny" Sides

Dallas Police Department, Texas

End of Watch Wednesday, February 7, 1951

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Willis Wood "Johnny" Sides

Officer Johnny Sides was shot and killed after he and his partner stopped a vehicle for running a red light. As they approached the vehicle the four men opened fire on them, killing Officer Sides and wounding his partner. The suspects were arrested two days later in Arkansas. They were wanted for the 1950 shooting of Mississippi Department of Public Safety Officer E.J. Grisham. Two of the suspects were executed and two were sentenced to life.

Officer Sides had been with the agency for three months and was survived by his parents, brother, and two sisters.

Bio

  • Age 22
  • Tour 3 months
  • Badge 337

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Incident Date Monday, January 22, 1951
  • Weapon Gun; Unknown type
  • Offender Two executed
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My father, Sgt. E.C. Duncan was one of Officer Sides instructors at the Police Academy. I remember how upset he was when Officer Sides was murdered even though I was only 5 at the time.

Anne Duncan Johnson
November 25, 2014

Anne Duncan Johnson
Daughter of Sgt.

November 26, 2014

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