Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Johnson was killed in an automobile accident while pursuing a vehicle. He and the Sheriff were en route to meet another officer to conduct an investigation when a car passed them at a high rate of speed weaving in the roadway. As the deputies pursued them the suspect's car went off of the roadway and kicked up a large cloud of dust. Deputy Johnson's patrol car then left the roadway, struck an object, then re-entered the roadway and was broadsided by another car. Deputy Johnson and the Sheriff were ejected from the vehicle and Deputy Johnson received fatal injuries.
Survivors
Deputy Johnson was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-FBB95BFB- 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 served with the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Milaca community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Johnson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff James Russell Johnson is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MN, 84 of 293 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.3 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Russell Johnson's cause is highlighted.
How James Russell Johnson Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Russell Johnson is highlighted in Jun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
