Special Deputy

Ambrous Murphy Johnson

Felonious
End of Watch July 27, 1932
Age 21
The Vigil Panel 64 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Deputy Murphy Johnson was shot and killed while assisting other deputies arrest a subject who was creating a disturbance at a local church in Quinton.

Two other deputies had deputized Special Deputy Johnson to assist them with the arrest of the man. During the encounter the suspect and his brother opened fire on the deputies, killing Special Deputy Johnson and seriously wounding the other two deputies. The subject's brother was also killed during the shootout.

Special Deputy Johnson was single and had served with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office for only one day.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-AC829A00
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Deputy Johnson served with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Somerset community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Johnson.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Somerset, Pulaski County, KY
Platform Identity pcso.pulaski.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 27, 1932
Age 21
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Special Deputy Ambrous Murphy Johnson is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,787 officers honored here.

In KY, 756 of 984 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Pulaski County Sheriff's Department, 8 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 88.9% of this agency's fallen.

Pulaski County Sheriff's Department
8
of 9 officers
88.9% Felonious
KY — Statewide
756
of 984 officers
76.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,787 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ambrous Murphy Johnson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Ambrous Murphy Johnson Compares

Age at Death
21
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ambrous Murphy Johnson is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ambrous Murphy Johnson was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Where the Name Is Cut