Warren Commission (07 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)United States. Warren Commission
History
Warren Commission (07 of 26): Hearings Vol. VII (of 15)
United States. Warren Commission
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 -- Assassination; Oswald, Lee Harvey
Mr. BELIN. What is your occupation?
Mr. JOHNSON. Police officer.
Mr. BELIN. For whom?
Mr. JOHNSON. Employed by the city of Dallas.
Mr. BELIN. Were you born and raised in Texas?
Mr. JOHNSON. Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. Go to school in Texas?
Mr. JOHNSON. Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. How far did you go through high school?
Mr. JOHNSON. I finished the eighth grade.
Mr. BELIN. You finished the eighth grade?
Mr. JOHNSON. Yes.
Mr. BELIN. Then what did you do?
Mr. JOHNSON. Went to work.
Mr. BELIN. By way of general background, what kind of work did you do?
Mr. JOHNSON. I started out working with a dairy, and dairy farm.
And went from that to ice route. From there I went to work at North
American Aircraft, and then the Army.
Mr. BELIN. When did you go in the Army?
Mr. JOHNSON. Infantry.
Mr. BELIN. When was that?
Mr. JOHNSON. 1944. September 1944.
Mr. BELIN. Then you were discharged in 1946?
Mr. JOHNSON. February 1946; yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. Honorably discharged?
Mr. JOHNSON. Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. Then what did you do?
Mr. JOHNSON. Then I went back to Aircraft.
Mr. BELIN. How long did you work in Aircraft?
Mr. JOHNSON. I worked there 11 months that time, and they had a layoff.
I got laid off, and I went back to peddling ice, and peddled ice for
about 6 months. Well, one summer. Then that is when I went to Terrell
and went in the dairy business for myself.
Mr. BELIN. You went what?
Mr. JOHNSON. I went to Terrell and went in the dairy business for
myself.
Mr. BELIN. Yes.
Mr. JOHNSON. Then I had that 5 years, and then came here.
Mr. BELIN. So you have been with the Dallas Police Department since
what year?
Mr. JOHNSON. 1953.
Mr. BELIN. How old are you?
Mr. JOHNSON. Forty-three.
Mr. BELIN. What was your position with the Dallas Police Department in
November of 1963?
Mr. JOHNSON. Detective, assigned to the homicide and robbery bureau.
Mr. BELIN. Are you still assigned to that bureau today?
Mr. JOHNSON. Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. As a detective?
Mr. JOHNSON. Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. On November 22, 1963, were you on duty?
Mr. JOHNSON. Yes, sir.
Mr. BELIN. Did you have anything to do with the Presidential motorcade?
Mr. JOHNSON. No, sir.
Mr. BELIN. At approximately what time did you find out about the
shooting of the President, to the best of your recollection?
Mr. JOHNSON. Must have been about 12:40, I guess.
Mr. BELIN. What did you do after you found out about it?
Mr. JOHNSON. Returned to the office.
Mr. BELIN. Returned to your office?
Mr. JOHNSON. Yes.
Mr. BELIN. Had you been out on duty in a patrol car away from the
office at the time?
Mr. JOHNSON. Yes, sir. We had just made an arrest prior to checking out
on a hijacking.
Mr. BELIN. Did you have a chance to eat that day or not? I mean lunch.
Mr. JOHNSON. No, sir; didn't eat lunch.
Mr. BELIN. Well, you got back to the office. Then what did you do?
Mr. JOHNSON. I was instructed by Lieutenant Wells to go to the Texas
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