Joseph F. Johnston, Jr.

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch October 12, 1958

Age 31

Badge 2251

The Vigil Panel 94 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 232

Incident

Officer Johnston was killed when his motorcycle collided with a car he was chasing for speeding. The driver of the other car suddenly turned across two lanes of traffic, causing Officer Johnston to strike it. The suspect was charged with manslaughter. In addition to his tenure with the California Highway Patrol, Officer Johnston had also served in the U.S. Army in California from 1950-53 at the Presidio and Camp Cooke with the 375th Military Police Company.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-F70A20F3
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 Johnston served with the California Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of California, 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 California Highway Patrol

Location Sacramento, CA

Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 12, 1958

Age 31

Badge Number 2251

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Offender Charged with manslaughter

Military Service

Joseph F. Johnston, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer Joseph F. Johnston, Jr. 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 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 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At California Highway Patrol, 71 of 233 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.5% of this agency's fallen.

California Highway Patrol

of 233 officers

30.5% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious