Incident
Officer John Turner was struck and killed by a drunk driver while directing traffic on South Royal Street near the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad depot. The impact knocked Officer Johns 63 feet. The driver fled the scene in his vehicle but was arrested a short time later and charged with second degree murder.
Officer Johns was a U.S. Army veteran of WWI and had been with the Jackson Police Department for 8 years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-D5EB26C8- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. John is one person.
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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.
Motorcycle Officer Johns gave the Jackson Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jackson community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Turner Johns served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Motorcycle Officer John Turner Johns 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 97,759 officers honored here.
In TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 64.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Jackson Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Turner Johns's cause is highlighted.
How John Turner Johns Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Turner Johns is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Turner Johns was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.
Military Service
John Turner Johns served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit John Turner Johns’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Jackson Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
