Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Lawrence Johnson succumbed to head injury received six years earlier when a brick was thrown at him on Alder Street, between Norris Street and Berks Street.
He and other officers had answered a call of a riot in the area after another policeman had been attacked by four men who had been firing a gun into the air. During the riot a brick was thrown and struck Sergeant Lawrence in the head causing a serious wound. Due to the seriousness of the wound, he was unable to return to duty and was kept on the city's payroll. He was being treated for the head wound in Bucks County when he died as a result of an infection.
It is unknown whether anyone ever arrested.
Sergeant Johnson was attached to the 28th Police District and served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 21 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-0802ED13- 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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Tributes
21 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Johnson gave the Philadelphia Police Department 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Johnson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Lawrence M. Johnson 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Philadelphia Police Department, 162 of 378 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lawrence M. Johnson's cause is highlighted.
How Lawrence M. Johnson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lawrence M. Johnson is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lawrence M. Johnson was killed by blunt object; brick.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
