Roll of Honor

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Sergeant

Ernest C. Johnson

Arnold Police Department — Arnold, PA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch April 2, 1953

Age 46

The Vigil Panel 89 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Sergeant Ernest Johnson and Chief Michael Peltz were shot after responding to a crazed man with a gun call on 4th Avenue. A man had barricaded himself on his back porch and was threatening to shoot people. In an exchange of gunfire with several officers, Sergeant Johnson was shot in the abdomen and died at Citizens General Hospital in New Kensington. Two other officers were also wounded and the suspect was killed. Chief Peltz was transported to a local hospital where he died two days later. Sergeant Johnson was a U.S Army veteran of WWII.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-FDA830BE
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.
Sergeant Johnson served with the Arnold Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Arnold community, 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 Arnold Police Department

Location Arnold, PA

Platform Identity apd.westmoreland.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 2, 1953

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .30-.30

Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

Ernest C. Johnson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Sergeant Ernest C. 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 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 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Arnold Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Arnold Police Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ernest C. Johnson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Ernest C. Johnson Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest C. Johnson is highlighted in Apr.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ernest C. Johnson was killed by rifle; .30-.30.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Arnold Police Department are honored on badge.nw.