Livonia Police Department, Michigan
End of Watch: Friday, January 19, 2007
Age: 45
Tour of Duty: 17 years
Badge Number: 237
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Date of Incident: January 19, 2007
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Officer Ervin Johnston suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after assisting a mentally ill man return to his group home.
Officer Johnston was dispatched to a call involving a man standing in the snow. After arriving, he learned that the man lived in a nearby group home. As he walked the man to his patrol car the man slipped and fell on Officer Johnston.
He returned the man to the home and returned to his patrol duties. He was found collapsed in his patrol car approximately one hour later.
Officer Johnston had served with the Livonia Police Department for 17 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Officer Johnston's son, Trooper Ervin Johnston II, died in the line of duty 18 months after his father while serving with the Alabama Department of Public Safety.