Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Deputy Kechi Johnson was shot and killed when he was ambushed along Whitewater Creek in the Upper Gila section of Grant County.
He had arrested a cattle thief while he and another deputy were trailing a group of cattle thieves who had been operating in the area. He separated from the other deputy in order to take the prisoner to the jail at Silver City. While en route he was ambushed by one of the man's companions.
After Chief Deputy Johnson was murdered the prisoner went to a nearby ranch, told the rancher, and then fled.
Chief Deputy Johnson was survived by his wife and four children.
Survivors
Chief Deputy Johnson was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-06B5AB24- 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.
Chief Deputy Johnson served with the Grant County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Silver City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief Deputy Johnson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief Deputy W. D. 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 NM, 123 of 193 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.7% of this state's fallen. That is 63.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Grant County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 4 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. W. D. Johnson's cause is highlighted.
How W. D. Johnson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. W. D. Johnson is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. W. D. Johnson was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Grant County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
