Thomas E. Johnson

Metro Nashville Police Department — Nashville, TN

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 16, 1968

Age 39

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 103 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 19

Incident

Officer Thomas Johnson and Officer Charles Thomasson were shot and killed after Officer Johnson stopped a vehicle at 15th Avenue and Herman Street that was wanted in connection with passing false money orders. As Officer Johnson exited his patrol car, the five occupants of the vehicle opened fire with a 30-30 rifle and other guns, striking him in the chest. When Officer Thomasson arrived on the scene to back up Officer Johnson, he was shot seven times. Officer Thomasson succumbed to his wounds two months later. The ensuing investigation revealed that the five suspects were connected to the radical Black Panther group. Within days, three suspects were apprehended in Cincinnati, Ohio, and charged with murder. All three were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 99 years on December 16, 1968. A fourth suspect was apprehended in 1971 and was convicted of voluntary manslaughter. On May 12, 1974, the first three suspects escaped from the Tennessee Penitentiary. One was captured in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 1, 1986. He hanged himself in his cell before officials could question him. A second escapee was captured in Jacksonville, Florida, on June 17, 1986, when he tried to apply for a driver's license. The third escapee remains at large. The fifth and final suspect was apprehended on June 18, 1986, at the Jacksonville home of the second captured escapee. He had been on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list longer than any other fugitive. Officer Johnson was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Metro Nashville Police Department for ten years. He was survived by his four children. He is buried at Nashville National Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee. The Black Panther Party was a black nationalist and Marxist revolutionary political and militant organization active in the United States between 1966 and 1982. Members and former members of the group were responsible for the murders of over 20 law enforcement officers and the wounding of dozens more across t

Survivors

He was survived by his four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TN-AE0F3751
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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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.
Officer Johnson gave the Metro Nashville Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Metro Nashville Police Department

Location Nashville, TN

Platform Identity mnpd.davidson.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 16, 1968

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .30-.30

Offender Sentenced to 99 years

Military Service

Thomas E. Johnson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer Thomas E. Johnson is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Metro Nashville Police Department, 12 of 20 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Metro Nashville Police Department

of 20 officers

60% Felonious

TN — Statewide

498

of 769 officers

64.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious