Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Johnston succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained three days earlier while he and another officer investigating a domestic disturbance at a hotel on West Temple Street. The hotel owner had called the officers after the male suspect threatened him with a weapon when the owner attempted to quiet the disturbance. When the officers arrived the suspect shot Sergeant Johnston in the abdomen. Sergeant Johnston was taken to St. Mark's Hospital where he died of his wounds three days later. The suspect was arrested, convicted of second degree murder, and sentenced to life. He was paroled on October 21, 1917.
Survivors
Sergeant Johnston had been in law enforcement for 24 years and was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-UT-61CC1B14- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
24 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Johnston gave the Salt Lake City Police Department 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Salt Lake City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Johnston.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant John H. Johnston is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In UT, 84 of 138 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this state's fallen. That is 60.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Salt Lake City Police Department, 14 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John H. Johnston's cause is highlighted.
How John H. Johnston Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John H. Johnston is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John H. Johnston was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
22 officers from Salt Lake City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
