Roll of Honor
Incident
Wagonman William Johnston was killed when the patrol wagon he was driving was struck by a streetcar at the intersection of Alexander Street and South Main Street.
He was en route to a fire when the collision occurred. He was taken to Presbyterian Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries later in the evening. Two other officers riding in the wagon suffered minor injuries.
Wagonman Johnston was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War and had served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for almost 18 years. He was a widower who was survived by his second wife, six adult children, and five siblings. He was assigned to the West End Police Station, present-day Zone 6 Police Station West End.
Survivors
He was a widower who was survived by his second wife, six adult children, and five siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-5CCC691F- 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.
Wagonman Johnston gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 17 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William J. Johnston served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Wagonman William J. Johnston is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In PA, 417 of 1,261 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.1% of this state's fallen. That is 2.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, 38 of 101 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 37.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William J. Johnston's cause is highlighted.
How William J. Johnston Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Johnston is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
100 officers from Pittsburgh Bureau of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
