Charles R. Johnston
Agency patch
Officer

Charles R. Johnston

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC
Felonious
End of Watch May 9, 1943
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Charles Johnston was shot and killed while responding to a shooting call at 617 21st Street, NE. The roommate of an off-duty officer had stolen the officer's weapon and shot his wife several times. Officer Johnston was the first uniformed officer on the scene. He entered the house and as he looked around a corner the suspect shot him in the head. The subject was apprehended at the scene. He sentenced to death and subsequently executed on December 14th, 1945. Officer Johnston was assigned to the Traffic Division.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Johnston served with the Metropolitan Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Johnston.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 9, 1943
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charles is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1943, 66 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 109th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 24. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Charles R. Johnston

Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch May 9, 1943

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 36-E

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