Roll of Honor
Willard Johnston
Incident
Officer Willard Johnston was killed when he was struck with a pick axe while trying to keep a prisoner from assaulting another prisoner. The incident occurred in a rock quarry at the Folsom Prison. The 31-year-old inmate, sent to Folsom Prison for robbery, received a life sentence in 1928 after he beat to death a fellow inmate with a shovel. He was convicted of Officer Johnston's murder and received another life sentence. Days later, he was transferred to an insane asylum but was sent back to Folsom Prison because he was uncontrollable. He died in the Folsom Prison hospital of tuberculosis on November 14, 1939. Officer Johnston had served with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for six years and was assigned to the Folsom Prison. He was on duty the day of the Folsom Riot in 1937 and was one of the guards who rushed into the lower yard, attempting to save Warden Clarence Larkin and Officer Harry Martin. He was survived by his wife and six children. His father retired from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation after 30 years of service. His brother-in-law was one of the militiamen killed attempting to capture the 13 convicts who escaped the Folsom Prison in 1903 after killing Officer William Leopold Cotter.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-A7786CF1- 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.
Officer Johnston gave the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Johnston.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Willard Johnston 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 30 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Willard Johnston's cause is highlighted.
How Willard Johnston Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Willard Johnston is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Willard Johnston was killed by edged weapon.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
41 officers from California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
