William Lee Johnson
Agency patch
Night Policeman

William Lee Johnson

Walton Police Department — Walton, KY
Felonious
End of Watch January 11, 1929
Age 74
The Vigil Panel 56 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Night Policeman William Johnson was shot and killed when he surprized three burglars attempting to enter the Kroger Store. All three were captured a short time later.

One of the suspects admitted that he alone shot Policeman Johnson. On March 16, 1929, he was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in the Kentucky State Penitentiary at Frankfort. One of the other suspects was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-44419935
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.
Night Policeman Johnson served with the Walton Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Walton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Policeman Johnson.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Walton, KY
Platform Identity wpd.boone.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 11, 1929
Age 74
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Night Policeman William Lee 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Walton Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Lee Johnson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How William Lee Johnson Compares

Age at Death
74
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Lee Johnson is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Lee Johnson was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Walton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.