Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Vance Johnson was shot and killed by a subject attempting to escape from the Sedgwick County Court House in Wichita, Kansas. The suspect, 30, charged with aggravated battery, threw hot coffee in his face, grabbed his gun, and shot him. Before he was captured three hours later, he shot and critically wounded a policeman and shot two deputies, critically wounding one and seriously wounding the other. The subject was not handcuffed when he was escorted from the jail to the courthouse. The Sedgwick County Sheriff, as well as several other law enforcement agencies throughout our nation, made it mandatory, "All prisoners had to be handcuffed." The suspect was charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder, and 27 felonies resulting from kidnappings, assaults, stealing cars, and several other charges during his three-hour rampage. On March 21, 1975, the suspect was convicted of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and sentenced to life plus 15 years. Other convictions resulted in a 1 to 5-year term, a 3 to 10-year term, and a 5 to 20-year term. In August of 2005, he had a parole hearing. Result unknown. Detective Johnson had served with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-93409107- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Johnson gave the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wichita community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Johnson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Roy Vance 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 KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 70.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department, 10 of 10 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. Roy Vance Johnson's cause is highlighted.
How Roy Vance Johnson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Roy Vance Johnson is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Roy Vance Johnson was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
