Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Johnson succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two days earlier when he was shot in the chest by a group of men he had just given directions to. The chief had observed the men acting suspiciously a few nights earlier and when he observed them again in a car at 0215 hours he approached them. The men asked for directions to a hotel and Chief Johnson told them where a hotel was. As the chief turned around one of the suspects struck him over the head with a gun and then another one of the men shot him in the chest. The shot paralyzed Chief Johnson from the waist down. He was transported to a local hospital where he died two days later. One suspect was later identified by officers. On September 22, 1930, two of the suspects robbed a bank in Genoa, Nebraska. They were apprehended six days later in Reno, Nevada, after they committed a small robbery there. The next day it was discovered they were wanted for the murder of Chief Johnson. It was also discovered one of the suspects was wanted in Iowa for violating his parole after he was paroled from Fort Madison Penitentiary in April of 1930. He had served time for a burglary conviction. Both suspects were convicted of robbing the Genoa bank and sentenced to 40 years. On November 2, 1944, both suspects escaped from the Nebraska penitentiary. They were apprehended in Oakland, Iowa, two weeks later. On January 13, 1945, they escaped from the jail in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The pair went of a extensive crime spree in several states committing thefts, robberies, and stealing three cars until they were apprehended by FBI agents in New, Hampshire on March 4, 1945. A month later they were sentenced in Boston, Massachusetts, Federal Court to 19 years in federal prison for several crimes. They were transferred to the federal prison in Atlanta and later were sent to Alcatraz. They were still charged with several crimes in several states too numerous to mention. In 1961 one of the suspects was returned to Nebraska to finish his sente
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Johnson served with the Ray Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Ray community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Johnson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Martin G. 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 ND, 39 of 61 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Ray Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Martin G. Johnson's cause is highlighted.
How Martin G. Johnson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Martin G. Johnson is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Martin G. Johnson was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Ray Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
