Incident
Officer Ernest Johnson was struck and killed by a train during a foot chase in the rail yards.
He and another officer had decided to check the yards for vagrants. They became involved in a chase, and the other officer caught both suspects. When Officer Johnson failed to return to the platform, the officer began searching for Officer Johnson and found his body lying between the rails of a track.
Officer Johnson had served with the Milwaukee Police Department for four years.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Police Officer Johnson gave the Milwaukee Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Johnson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Milwaukee Police Department has lost 69 officers; 23 of them lost to accidents.
Ernest is one of 125 officers lost to accidents in WI, 39.3% of the 318 remembered there.
Ernest is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Ernest is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1904, 1 officer at Milwaukee Police Department was lost to accidents, the 4th heaviest of 20 years on record. The heaviest was 1948, with 2.
In 1904, 1 officer in WI was lost to accidents, the 35th heaviest of 72 years on record. The heaviest was 1987, with 5.
In 1904, 28 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 116th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1904, 33 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 118th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Ernest was 35. Of the 14 lost to accidents at Milwaukee Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27.3 and 34.5; the middle age was 30.5. Ernest had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Ernest was 35. Of the 101 lost to accidents in WI whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 45; the middle age was 34. Ernest had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Ernest was 35. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Ernest had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ernest was 35. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Ernest had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 8.7% of these deaths at Milwaukee Police Department; August holds the most, 21.7%. Thursdays: 21.7%.
September holds 6.4% of these deaths in WI; July holds the most, 16.8%. Thursdays: 20%.
September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 33.3% of all 69 deaths at Milwaukee Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.3% of all 318 deaths in WI, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Milwaukee Police Department has 69 officers remembered here, Ernest among them.
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Frank Piszczek
Jun 22, 1884
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John Kossow
Sep 30, 1899
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Ernest Johnson
Sep 15, 1904
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Otto H. Flieth
Dec 17, 1908
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Peter Gauer
Jul 3, 1909
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Charles William Gudgell
Aug 22, 1916
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Frank Caswin
Nov 24, 1917
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Henry Deckert
Nov 24, 1917
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Frederick Kaiser
Nov 24, 1917
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David O'Brien
Nov 24, 1917
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Charles Seehawer
Nov 24, 1917
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Edward Spindler
Nov 24, 1917
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Stephen Stecker
Nov 24, 1917
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Albert Templin
Nov 24, 1917
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Paul Weiler
Nov 24, 1917
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William F. Kaemmerling
Jan 28, 1922
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Joseph Kubacki
May 24, 1924
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Walter Luedtke
Dec 18, 1924
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Harry W. Schmidt
Apr 4, 1925
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Hilbert F. Thurow
Aug 22, 1930
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Robert E. Bahlke, Jr.
Feb 23, 1932
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Richard R. Zingler
Feb 8, 1933
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Harry Pieske
Jun 27, 1935
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Charles George
Jun 8, 1936
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Nels Goodman
Aug 10, 1937
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George H. Raabe
Nov 2, 1937
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Albert Charles Grosskopf
Feb 13, 1943
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Joseph A. Lecher
Mar 21, 1943
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Arnold O. Werner
Jul 10, 1943
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Valentine Adam, Jr.
Mar 6, 1948
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Elmer A. Bates
Aug 23, 1948
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Vernon V. White
Nov 10, 1951
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Raymond A. Nencki
Oct 5, 1959
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Robert Elroy Kraemer
Feb 7, 1963
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James J. Rivers
Mar 21, 1966
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Ronald T. Hogan
May 2, 1967
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Bryan J. Moschea
Jul 31, 1967
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George Fish
Sep 22, 1970
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Alan Sroczynski
Nov 8, 1970
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Paul G. DuPlanty
Nov 9, 1971
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Gerald William Hempe
Jan 31, 1973
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Charles T. Smith
Jan 31, 1973
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Ronald Patrick Reagan
Dec 13, 1973
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Thomas George Matulis
Jul 10, 1974
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Robert D. Riley
Jul 10, 1974
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Michael L. Draeger
Dec 28, 1974
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Dennis Lee OBradovich
Aug 17, 1975
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Albert C. Kohn
Oct 29, 1975
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Thomas Randy Kiefer
Nov 25, 1977
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John A. Machajewski
Dec 23, 1981
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Charles S. Mehlberg
Dec 23, 1981
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Sydney Carter Snow, Jr.
Jan 30, 1982
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Rosario Joseph Collura
Mar 19, 1985
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Leonard Raymond Lesnieski
Mar 19, 1985
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Dennis J. Gorlewski
Mar 25, 1987
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Roger A. Sterling
May 11, 1987
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Steven John Hasenstab
Aug 19, 1989
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Richard E. Wagner
Oct 25, 1990
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Michael R. Tourmo
Nov 18, 1990
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William Arthur Robertson
Sep 7, 1994
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Michael Andrew Niehoff
Nov 30, 1994
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Wendolyn Odell Tanner
Sep 7, 1996
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Jason Vetter
Oct 2, 2017
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Charles G. Irvine, Jr.
Jun 7, 2018
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Michael John Michalski
Jul 25, 2018
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Matthew John Rittner
Feb 6, 2019
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Mark Shawn Lentz
Sep 18, 2019
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Peter E. C. Jerving
Feb 7, 2023
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Kendall Isaiah Corder
Jun 29, 2025
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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