Paul H. Johnson
Agency patch
Patrolman

Paul H. Johnson

Washington State Patrol — Olympia, WA
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch December 12, 1949
Age 32
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Gender Male

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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Stewardship
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

Type Highway Patrol
Location Olympia, Thurston County, WA
Platform Identity whp.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 12, 1949
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Military Service

Paul H. Johnson served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Paul 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 1949, 65 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 113th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

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.

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

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.8%.

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 rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Washington State Patrol has 34 officers remembered here, Paul among them.

Patrolman Paul H. Johnson

Washington State Patrol · End of Watch December 12, 1949

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

Also Remembered

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