Metro-Dade Police Department, Florida
End of Watch: Saturday, February 3, 1962
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: 721
Cause of Death: Motorcycle crash
Date of Incident: January 31, 1962
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Police Officer Earl Johnson succumbed to injuries sustained four days earlier while responding to an officer down call.
He was off duty when he heard a radio call from an officer who had just been shot requesting assistance. Officer Johnson got on his police motorcycle and was en route to the scene but lost control of the motorcycle at SW 89th Avenue and 88th Street. The impact of Officer Johnson hitting the ground caused his helmet to crack.
He was transported to Baptist Hospital where he died four days later. The officer who had been shot survived.
Officer Johnson was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and served in law enforcement for five years. He was survived by his wife and three daughters.