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Inspector

John R. Johnston

Oakland Police Department — Oakland, CA

Felonious

End of Watch June 27, 1946

Age 47

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

The Vigil Panel 82 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 53

Incident

Inspector John Johnston was shot and killed while investigating possible burglary activity in the 400 block of Merritt Avenue shortly before 9:00 pm. Several officers were patrolling the area due to recent burglaries. He observed two suspicious men and called them over to his unmarked car. While talking to the two, one shot Inspector Johnson several times while Inspector Johnson was still seated behind the wheel of his car. No one knew of the shooting until an off-duty police officer stopped to investigate Inspector Johnston's vehicle, which was still parked in the middle of the street. The killer and his accomplice were apprehended and charged with murder and eight counts of burglary. On October 17th, 1946, both were convicted of eight counts of burglary and sentenced to 36 years in prison. The man who shot Inspector Johnston was found to be insane and committed to a state mental hospital. On April 26th, 1948, he was found to be sane and returned to Oakland to stand trial for murder. On May 7th, 1948, he was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 41 years in prison. He was denied parole in 1960. Inspector Johnston had served with the Oakland Police Department for 18 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Inspector Johnston gave the Oakland Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oakland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Johnston.

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

Agency

Department Oakland Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Oakland, Alameda County, CA

Platform Identity opd.alameda.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 27, 1946

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 47

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1946, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

John was 47. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded