Police Officer E. W. Johnson
Florence Police Department
South Carolina
End of Watch: Friday, November 19, 1926

Biographical Info
Age: 49
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Monday, November 15, 1926
Weapon Used: Handgun; Revolver
Suspect Info: Died in prison

Officer Johnson was shot and fatally wounded by a man he attempted to arrest in a local cafe for starting a disturbance.

The 20 year-old suspect, found hiding under a bed in a nearby home, was shot three times by officers effecting his arrest. Officer Johnson, shot through his lung, developed double pneumonia and died in a local hospital four days later.

The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death March 30, 1927. A month later Governor John Richards commuted his sentence to life. He died in prison November 22, 1943.

Officer Johnson had served with the Florence Police Department for seven years. He was survived by his wife and four children.