JOHNSON

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Monday, May 15, 2006 at 06:08:04 :

Independent Journal
Monday, October 25, 1971
Page 4

ALVIN JOHNSON

Funeral for Sgt. Alvin J. Johnson of Mill Valley, retired San Francisco police officer, will be at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Russell and Gooch Mortuary in Mill Valley.

Sergeant Johnson, 56, died Friday in a local hospital following a long illness.

A member of the San Francisco Police Department for 28 years, Johnson retired last March. He was a member of the San Francisco Police Officers’ Association.

Five years ago Johnson inadvertently shot and killed a 16-year-old Hunters Point Youth who ran when the sergeant wanted to question him about a car he suspected was stolen.

The officer, heartbroken over the tragedy, was later exonerated by a coroner’s jury that found the death an accident and misfortune but justifiable homicide.

The shooting, however, set off two days of rioting in the Hunters Point and Fillmore districts.

Sergeant Johnson was a native of San Francisco and had lived in Marin County 25 years. The family home is at 137 Sunnyside Avenue.

His wife, Florence P. Johnson, has worked as a secretary for the Mill Valley School District for more than 20 years.

Johnson is also survived by a son, Dennis A. Johnson of Woodland Hills, Los Angeles County; a daughter, Marcia L. Johnson of Mill Valley, and two grandchildren.

Private inurnment will follow the funeral.

The family prefers donations to the American Cancer Society’s leukemia research program or to a favorite charity.

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A Death Notice in the same paper refers to Mrs Johnson as Florence Pritchard Johnson; he was the grandfather of Scott and Mark, and father-in-law of Jeanne C. Johnson.