Dexter Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Friday, September 11, 1987
Age: 55
Tour of Duty: 13 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 7, 1987
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Committed
Chief Samuel Johnson was shot and killed when he was ambushed while responding to shots fired call on Pillar Point at 6:30 pm.
A man had just murdered a friend and then went to a nearby intersection and set up an ambush. As Chief Johnson responded to the shots fired call, not knowing a murder had been committed, he slowed at the intersection to turn when the suspect opened fire on him with the shotgun. Chief Johnson's patrol car ran into a guard rail, where the man came up and shot him several more times before stealing his radio and service weapon. After other units failed to reach Chief Johnson on the radio, they went to investigate and found where he had been shot.
After a high-speed pursuit, the suspect was shot several times and wounded. He pleaded guilty for the reason of insanity and was committed to a state hospital.
Chief Johnson had served with the Dexter Police Department for 13 years. He was survived by his wife and five children.
The State Highway 180 Bridge was renamed the Samuel A. Johnson Memorial Bridge.