On a September evening in 1987, the community of Dexter, New York, was struck by a tragedy that would long be remembered. The town's Chief of Police, Samuel A. Johnson Sr., a man who had dedicated thirteen years to serving and protecting the public, responded to a call of shots fired on Pillar Point. Unbeknownst to him, this was no ordinary call, but a calculated ambush that would cut his life short.
Earlier that evening, a local man had murdered a friend.
Consumed by a murderous rage, he then proceeded to a nearby intersection, where he laid in wait for law enforcement to arrive. As Chief Johnson's patrol car slowed to make a turn, the suspect unleashed a hail of gunfire from a shotgun. The patrol car, now without a driver, veered off the road and crashed into a guardrail. The assailant then approached the wrecked vehicle and fired several more shots at the fallen chief, stealing his service weapon and radio before fleeing the scene. When other units were unable to reach Chief Johnson on the radio, they began an investigation and discovered the horrific scene.
A high-speed pursuit ensued as law enforcement closed in on the suspect. The chase ended with the suspect being shot several times and wounded. In the subsequent legal proceedings, the man who had taken two lives that day pleaded guilty by reason of insanity. He was then committed to a state hospital for his crimes. In the years that followed, the community of Dexter found a way to create a lasting tribute to their fallen chief. The State Highway 180 bridge was officially renamed the Samuel A. Johnson Memorial Bridge, ensuring that his sacrifice for the safety of his community would never be forgotten.
