BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Bawdy jokes about fuzzy pink handcuffs aside, Starke Police Chief Jeff Johnson’s farewell was marked by emotion, including gratitude for him and some anger toward the city commission.
“All in God’s time.” Johnson repeated it several times as he told his story, beginning with his mother moving his family back to Starke. While in school, he took his first job working for the city in 1978, he said.
“I really believe that was God’s timing, putting a godly man like that in my life,” Johnson said of Jim Lewis, who was his PE teacher and many years later became the police department’s victim advocate. Johnson added his mother, Harold Crews, Jerry McGriff and others as godly people who influenced his life for the better.
“They put me where I am,” he said.
That part-time job was in the recreation department working for Cassandra Johnson Kiser, Cheryl Godwin Canova, Liliane Johns and Randy Crews, and after three years he went full time when he turned 18.
From there, he moved to the fire department — a short career as a firefighter that lasted just over a year. Then he became a jack of all trades working for the city’s street department. There weren’t strictly defined job duties, so Johnson repaired meters or gas lines, worked at the power plant, rode the garbage truck, etc.
Johnson joked that God didn’t want him to be a fireman or a garbage man, so after a short leave, he went back to the recreation department while he, his brother and Gordon Smith went to the police academy. He worked days and went to school at night, receiving the training he needed to be hired by the Starke Police Department. Besides a three-year period writing speeding tickets in Waldo, Johnson has been at Starke PD serving under numerous chiefs, including Smith. Johnson has led the agency since 2009, stretching his law enforcement career nearly 40 years.
Now, without an agency to lead, Johnson is retiring from the position.
“I’m proud of everything I’ve done — the good and the bad. Have I made mistakes? Absolutely, and I’ll own up to every one of them, but I’ve done a good job with that police department,” he said to a round of applause.
He shared appreciation for everyone who showed up, with some specific shout-outs, including Barry Warren for his loyalty.
His children and grandchildren are his world he said, but besides Jesus Christ, the most important person in his life is his wife, Carrie.
“She knows all my faults. I don’t think there’s many, but she will probably tell you different. We’ve been married a long time, and every time she gets mad at me and starts packing clothes, I just ask her where we’re going, because I’m going with her,” he said.
With apologies to anyone he had forgotten, Johnson thanked those whom he’s worked for and those who worked for him.
“It’s God’s time to move forward and retire,” he said.
Several spoke to Johnson or on his behalf, including Jeff Oody, who acknowledged Carrie Johnson and the nights she spent worrying about her husband on the job.
“Carrie, that’s your best friend,” he said.
To the chief, Oody said, “Punkin, you have been a pillar of the community, with the kids, through sports, through friendships, through the political atmosphere you’ve been in. And I can’t tell you enough, from me to you as a friend, how much I respect you.”
Others weren’t happy with the changes the city commission had made regarding law enforcement or with losing Johnson as police chief. Business owner Al Mize said he feels less safe and accused the city commission of firing Johnson by eliminating the police department and considering an ordinance to make the position ceremonial with an annual salary of $1.
“The city of Starke has in essence fired the chief without using the word fired,” he said, predicting an increase in burglary, drugs and vandalism.
Attorney Dan Sikes asked the commission to postpone consideration of the police chief ordinance until after Johnson’s retirement was effective May 1. Sikes said Johnson should be able to retire with dignity.
“This man has served the community. He has stood fast. He’s held mothers after their children died. He’s helped people when they’ve had all sorts of tragedies. He’s been by so many people in this community, and there are so many people out here that love him. And there’s a popularity that this guy has that I don’t think everybody here really understands. This man should have the opportunity to retire with absolute dignity,” Sikes said.
Albert Hunter also spoke out about the ordinance, claiming the city commission was in the wrong for trying to eliminate an official elected by voters.
Johnson did not rescind his resignation as Mize requested, however, and the commission voted to approve the ordinance — although there was enough support on the board to amend the effective date to May 1.
Commissioners said the ordinance was not about an individual — i.e., Johnson — but about the commission’s decision regarding the future of law enforcement and placing it in the hands of the sheriff.
