Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective William R. Johnson was killed in a crash involving his squad car and three other vehicles at E. 59th Street and S. Cottage Grove Avenue. He was responding to a call regarding a rape suspect when his vehicle was broadsided by another automobile. Detective Johnson was thrown from his car, resulting in fatal injuries. Detective Johnson had served with the Chicago Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, daughter, and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-21D0681C- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Johnson gave the Chicago Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Johnson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective William R. Johnson is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In IL, 354 of 1,318 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 26.9% of this state's fallen. That is 26.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Chicago Police Department, 107 of 571 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 18.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William R. Johnson's cause is highlighted.
How William R. Johnson Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William R. Johnson is highlighted in Nov.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
