William Horace Johnson

Cameron County Sheriff's Office — Olmito, TX

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch June 9, 1928

Age 29

The Vigil Panel 55 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 12

Incident

Deputy Sheriff William Horace Johnson was shot and killed while investigating bootleggers. Deputy Sheriff Johnson had received information that a consignment of liquor was to be smuggled across the Rio Grande River. Deputy Sheriff Johnson, along with U.S. Border Patrolmen Roy Harrell of Mercedes, and Ramon Longoria of Harlingen, joined him in an attempt to intercept the liquor.

The officers stationed themselves along the road and when the two smugglers appeared, they ordered them to stop. The smugglers opened fire. Deputy Sheriff Johnson was struck by three bullets, one passing through his right arm, another through his chest and the third struck him in the heart. Deputy Sheriff Johnson returned fire and killed one of the smugglers before dying.

Deputy Sheriff Johnson was born on June 7, 1899 in Fisher, Texas. He died two days after his 29th birthday. Deputy Sheriff Johnson had previously served with the United States Army and was survived by his wife and son. He was buried in the Harlingen City Cemetery. His father was the former sheriff of Fisher County and a Texas Ranger.

Survivors

Deputy Sheriff Johnson had previously served with the United States Army and was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-A0EB2B83
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.
Deputy Sheriff Johnson served with the Cameron County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Olmito community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Cameron County Sheriff's Office

Location Olmito, TX

Platform Identity ccso.cameron.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 9, 1928

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Unknown weapon

Offender one suspect was killed

Military Service

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

Deputy Sheriff William Horace 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Cameron County Sheriff's Office, 12 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.3% of this agency's fallen.

Cameron County Sheriff's Office

of 13 officers

92.3% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious