Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Christensen was fatally stabbed by a 15 year-old youth when he attempted to apprehend his 16 year-old girlfriend who had escaped from the Umitilla County Juvenile Detention Center. Sergeant Christensen, unaware of the escape, stopped to assist the teenagers when their car broke down not far from the center. When Sergeant Christensen received information about the escape the boy stabbed him three times as he tried to stop the girl from fleeing. Sergeant Christensen managed to drive himself to the hospital. He died the next day after two extensive surgeries. A judge ordered the boy to be sent to a boy's reformatory. Sergeant Christensen had been employed with the Pendleton Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OR-59B0561B- 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.
Sergeant Christensen gave the Pendleton Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pendleton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Christensen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant John Paul Christensen 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 OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 4.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Paul Christensen's cause is highlighted.
How John Paul Christensen Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Paul Christensen is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Paul Christensen was killed by edged weapon; knife.