Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Detectives Tom Johnson and Patrolman Albert Hall were shot to death, and two other officers wounded, in a gunfight with a robbery suspect who had barricaded himself in his home at 7th Street and Sycamore Street. Minutes later the suspect was smoked out of his house and shot and killed by police and servicemen who had joined them. Chief of Detectives Johnson had served with the St. Joseph Police Department for 20 years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-3E5A5E0C- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Detectives Johnson gave the St. Joseph Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the St. Joseph community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Detectives Johnson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Detectives Thomas A. Johnson 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At St. Joseph Police Department, 7 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas A. Johnson's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas A. Johnson Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas A. Johnson is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas A. Johnson was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from St. Joseph Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
