Incident
Patrolman Paul Johnson was shot and killed after he and his partner responded to a report of a man randomly shooting at his neighbors at Ernie's Bend near Snoqualmie, Washington. Patrolman Johnson had taken a position behind his patrol car. When the officers called out to the suspect to surrender, the man opened a window and started shooting, striking Patrolman Johnson twice. Three other people were wounded during the shooting spree. Patrolman Johnson was taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. The 58-year-old suspect was declared insane and committed. He died at Medical City Mental Hospital on July 18, 1952. Patrolman Johnson was a United States Army WWII veteran and had served with the Washington State Patrol for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Johnson gave the Washington State Patrol 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Washington, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Paul H. Johnson served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Washington State Patrol has lost 34 officers; 8 of them killed feloniously.
Paul is one of 187 officers killed feloniously in WA, 55% of the 340 remembered there.
Paul is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Paul is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1949, 1 officer at Washington State Patrol was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1949, 6 officers in WA were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 96 years on record. The heaviest was 1935, with 8.
In 1949, 65 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 113th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1949, 65 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 122nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Paul was 32. Of the 8 killed feloniously at Washington State Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 42.3; the middle age was 32.5. Paul had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 12 years.
Paul was 32. Of the 159 killed feloniously in WA whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 46; the middle age was 41. Paul had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Paul was 32. 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. Paul had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Paul was 32. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Paul had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 25% of these deaths at Washington State Patrol, more than any other month. Mondays: 12.5%.
December holds 4.8% of these deaths in WA; November holds the most, 11.8%. Mondays: 12.3%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.8%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 23.5% of all 34 deaths at Washington State Patrol, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 12.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 55% of all 340 deaths in WA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 13.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
Washington State Patrol has 34 officers remembered here, Paul among them.
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Vernon G. Fortin
Sep 30, 1923
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Irving M. Thorsvig
Oct 26, 1926
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Conard C. Tolson
Mar 24, 1929
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Henry Douglas Cossmann
Oct 9, 1929
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William H. Pautzke
May 8, 1930
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Loren G. Ray
Dec 16, 1934
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Allen E. Ludden
Mar 15, 1938
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John H. Gulden
Dec 23, 1942
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Thomas J. Hanlin
May 26, 1945
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Paul H. Johnson
Dec 12, 1949
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Ivan Belka
Aug 18, 1951
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Donald R. Campbell
Dec 21, 1951
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John F. Wright
Jun 28, 1953
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Eugene A. Bolstad
Sep 3, 1957
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Ernest E. Eichhorn
Sep 16, 1958
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Wesley H. Whittenberg
Dec 29, 1960
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Clarence C. Johnson
Sep 8, 1968
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Charles Frank Noble
Feb 5, 1972
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Joseph B. Modlin
Aug 15, 1974
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Thomas L. Hendrickson
Nov 17, 1974
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Glenda Darlene Thomas
May 24, 1985
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James S. Gain
Mar 2, 1987
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Clifford R. Hansell
Jul 22, 1987
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Raymond L. Hawn
Jan 17, 1990
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Steven Lee Frink
Mar 22, 1993
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James E. Saunders
Oct 7, 1999
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Tony Vian Radulescu
Feb 23, 2012
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Sean Michael O'Connell, Jr.
May 31, 2013
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Brent L. Hanger
Aug 6, 2015
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Suzanne Padgett
Sep 4, 2018
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Justin Robert Schaffer
Mar 24, 2020
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Eric Thomas Gunderson
Sep 26, 2021
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Christopher M. Gadd
Mar 2, 2024
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Tara-Marysa Guting
Dec 19, 2025
Military Service
Paul H. Johnson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Paul H. Johnson’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
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