Roll of Honor

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Police Officer

Claud William Johnson

Lamesa Police Department — Lamesa, TX

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch March 29, 1950

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 86 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Police Officer Claud Johnson was beaten to death with his handgun after interrupting a burglar. He was on patrol on the courthouse square when he observed a man trying to break into a store. As Officer Johnson confronted the man his duty weapon was taken from him and the suspect beat him with it. The man was sentenced to death but had the sentence overturned and was re-sentenced to five years of hard labor in San Angelo, Texas. Officer Johnson was a veteran of WWII.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-B4462C07
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.
Police Officer Johnson served with the Lamesa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lamesa 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 Lamesa Police Department

Location Lamesa, TX

Platform Identity lpd.dawson.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 29, 1950

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Death sentence overturned

Military Service

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

Police Officer Claud William 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%.

Lamesa Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% 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. Claud William 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 Claud William Johnson Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Death sentence overturned

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Claud William Johnson is highlighted in Mar.

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. Claud William Johnson was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518