Sergeant

Robert L. Johnston

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch July 20, 1926
Age 45
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Robert Johnston died after developing gangrene as the result of a wound sustained when he was kicked in the leg 11 months earlier while making an arrest at the intersection of 31st Street and Giles Avenue.

He and his partner were interviewing two men when a third man approached. The officers ordered the third man to leave the area but he refused and began struggling with the officers. During the struggle he kicked Sergeant Johnston in the shin, causing a cut. The cut eventually became infected and led to Sergeant Johnston's death.

The suspect was originally fined only $10 and was never charged in connection with Sergeant Johnston's death.

Sergeant Johnston had served with the Chicago Police Department for 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and twin daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnmt2ey79v6n213rhd14
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Robert. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Johnston gave the Chicago Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Johnston.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 20, 1926
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Assault
Weapon Person

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Robert is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1926, 209 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Robert was 45. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Robert had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Robert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Sergeant Robert L. Johnston

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch July 20, 1926

Where the Name Is Cut

↑