Bristow Police Department, Oklahoma
End of Watch Saturday, September 20, 1924
Add to My HeroesWilliam H. Johnston
Detective William Johnston was killed in a vehicle crash while pursuing three subjects who had just committed a bank robbery.
The patrol car Detective Johnston was riding in overturned. He suffered fatal injuries in the crash. Two other officers suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Detective Johnston had served with the Bristow Police Department for 12 years.
Bio
- Age 57
- Tour 12 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Vehicle pursuit
- Weapon Automobile
- Offender Not available
Most Recent Reflection
View all 4 ReflectionsDetective William Howard Johnston was my great grandfather. Himself, wife, daughters Donna Lee, Agnus, traveled by horse drawn wagon from Pierce City, MO. taking a year to settle in OK. Indian Territory. He would find work as they traveled. His father was William Harvey Johnston who fought in the Civil War, for the North and was shot in the back paralyzing him from the waist down. His wife was Elizabeth Robinson Johnston was from Virginia, a Southern State, was ousted from her family for marrying a Yankee and never allowed any contact with her family as a result. Detective Johnston was riding on the running board in the chase. Prior to his death, he arrested a Chinese man in a laundry in Okmulgee, OK. Taking a Colt 32 caliber from the man as he reached for the pistol. His daughter Donna was my grandmother. To whom I was very close to. Other stories she told me about him and their travel I don’t quite remember.
Michael Lee Wiley
Great Grand Son
June 2, 2025
Recent LODD Deaths

Sergeant Shiou Deng
Los Angeles Police Department, CA
EOW: June 23, 2025

Lieutenant Eddie Mays
Bernie Police Department, MO
EOW: June 5, 2025

Police Officer Gabriel Facio
Apache Junction Police Department, AZ
EOW: June 8, 2025

Police Officer Krystal Rivera
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: June 5, 2025

Sergeant J. D. White
Angleton Police Department, TX
EOW: June 1, 2025

Police Officer Timothy Ontiveros
Bloomfield Police Department, NM
EOW: June 1, 2025

Police Officer Samuel Riveros
Baldwin Park Police Department, CA
EOW: May 31, 2025

Deputy Sheriff Daniel Weston Sherrer
Morrow County Sheriff's Office, OH
EOW: May 26, 2025

Deputy Sheriff Nathaniel Ansay
Florence County Sheriff's Office, SC
EOW: May 20, 2025