The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversaries of their End of Watch.
Anthony Johnson, Sr. was appointed to the Cleveland Police Department on June 1, 1981, fulfilling a life-long dream to become a police officer. He was assigned to the 4th District, where he served for just three months.
On October 21, 1981, Patrol Officer Johnson and his partner Officer John Hyland, responded to an alarm at the National City Bank branch at 16614 Harvard Avenue. Upon arrival, one of the robbers, Leonard Jenkins, came out of the bank shooting. In an exchange of gunfire, Johnson was shot in the head and suffered multiple skull fractures. Officer Hyland suffered a broken leg. Leonard Jenkins was hit in the chest and spine, paralyzing him.
Officer Johnson was transported to Brentwood Hospital, where he underwent hours of surgery and was put on life support system. He died that evening, aged 22.
Johnson was survived by his high school sweetheart and wife, Tracy, and his seven month old son Anthony, Jr. Over 2,000 people attended the services, where he was buried with full police honors.
