Welch Police Department, West Virginia
End of Watch: Wednesday, April 20, 1949
Age: 50
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 20, 1949
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Officer Johnson was shot and killed by a jail escapee who he and another officer cornered in the basement of a home. Both officers returned fire killing the suspect.
The officers had pursued the suspect as he escaped from the McDowell County Jail. Just seconds before he fled he shot and killed Deputy Sheriff Travis Milton French of the McDowell County Sheriff's Department.
Officer Johnson was survived by his wife and child.