Flem Johnson

Mingo County Sheriff's Dept. — Williamson, WV

Felonious

End of Watch April 20, 1946

Age 26

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 82 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Flem Johnson was shot and killed as he and another deputy attempted to arrest a bar owner in Delbarton.

The other deputy had arrested a patron for being drunk in public in the bar moments before Deputy Johnson arrived at the scene. During the initial arrest the bar owner threatened the deputy and told him next time he came back he would kill him.

Deputy Johnson, who had just arrived in Delbarton by taxi for his night patrol, accompanied the deputy back to the bar to arrest the owner. As he entered the establishment, the bar owner opened fire with a .44 caliber handgun, striking Deputy Johnson three times, fatally wounding him. Deputy Johnson and the other deputy both returned fire and killed the suspect.

Deputy Johnson had served with the Mingo County Sheriff's Office for six years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two children, parents, and 16 siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-DFA28DE2
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Johnson gave the Mingo County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Williamson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Johnson.

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

Agency

Department Mingo County Sheriff's Dept.

Location Williamson, WV

Platform Identity mcso.mingo.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 20, 1946

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; .44 caliber

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff Flem Johnson is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Mingo County Sheriff's Dept., 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Mingo County Sheriff's Dept.

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious