Roll of Honor
Ronald E. "RJ" Johnson
Incident
Correctional Officer Ronald Johnson was killed by two inmates who were attempting to escape from the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls.
The inmates attacked Officer Johnson, beat him with a metal pipe, and then wrapped his head in plastic wrap. One of the inmates then put on Officer Johnson's uniform. As the inmate wheeled out a large box with the other inmate inside another officer didn't recognize him as a fellow officer and confronted him.
The officer was attacked but was assisted by other officers who witnessed the attack on surveillance cameras. Both inmates were subdued before being able to escape. One of the inmates who murdered Officer Johnson had been involved in several successful and attempted escapes before.
Officer Johnson was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
Both inmates were charged with first-degree murder, first-degree murder-kidnapping, and assault. One of the inmates pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to death. He was executed by lethal injection on Oct. 15th, 2012. The other inmate involved in the escape was convicted of murder, sentenced to death, and executed in 2018. A third inmate, who provided material used in the murder but did not participate in the escape, was sentenced to life in prison.
Officer Johnson had served with the South Dakota Department of Corrections for 23 years and was murdered on his 63rd birthday.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two children, and six grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SD-6283C3CF- 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
23 years. You could have gone home.
Correctional Officer Johnson gave the South Dakota Department of Corrections 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Dakota. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Johnson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Officer Ronald E. "RJ" 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 SD, 36 of 62 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.1% of this state's fallen. That is 3.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At South Dakota Department of Corrections, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ronald E. "RJ" Johnson's cause is highlighted.
How Ronald E. "RJ" Johnson Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ronald E. "RJ" Johnson is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ronald E. "RJ" Johnson was killed by blunt object; pipe.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from South Dakota Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
