DeKalb County Police Department, Georgia
End of Watch: Sunday, September 7, 1952
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: September 7, 1952
Weapon Used: Automobile; Alcohol involved
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life in prison
Officer Wilford Johnson and Lieutenant James Nix were killed when a vehicle traveling the wrong way struck their patrol car on Redan Road. The driver of the vehicle who was under the influence of alcohol drove the vehicle off the road striking ditch and then struck the police car on the right side, killing both officers.
The driver of the vehicle was sentenced to life in prison.
Officer Johnson was a U.S Army Air Force veteran of World war II. He was killed in the line of duty a day shy of his 26th birthday.