Roll of Honor
Incident
Policeman William Johnston was shot and killed when he tried to arrest a man who had been causing a disturbance at the Powelton Avenue Station of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
After being shot Policeman Johnston returned fire, but missed his assailant, who fled.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-10E27D9E- 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
139 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Policeman Johnston served with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Policeman William D. 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Philadelphia Police Department, 162 of 378 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William D. Johnston's cause is highlighted.
How William D. Johnston Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William D. Johnston is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William D. Johnston was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
