At the Albert R. Atkinson Jr. Post 210 American Legion meeting March 6, the post honored Cpl. Michael Johnson of the Plumstead Township Police Department as its Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
Cpl. Johnson began his law enforcement career in 1980 with the Bucks County Sheriff’s Department and then moved to the Doylestown Township Police Department.
While at Doylestown, he was instrumental in forming, and leading, the Central Bucks Special Response Team – a multi-jurisdictional tactical/negotiator/crime scene team. He served with Doylestown Township until August 2009, when he was hired by the Plumstead Township Police Department.
At Plumstead, he maintains an active patrol presence, leads a squad of officers and is an instructor in the Taser device.
There are multiple aspects to law enforcement work. The first, of course, is the preservation of law and order in the community. Equally important is building trust in the community, i.e., community policing.
It is in this aspect of law enforcement that Cpl. Johnson excels, the Legion said. Because of his efforts, Plumstead residents have many opportunities to interface with police in social environments and build relationships with the officers. This is accomplished via the following events:
· Coffee with a cop – an opportunity for the public to meet police officers in a social setting
· Law Enforcement night – demonstration of local agencies’ capabilities
· Pack the patrol car – food drive for local food banks
· Shop with a cop – financially struggling families shop for holiday gifts
Johnson also is a member of the Quakertown Borough Council (and has been since 2008) and is a member of the board of trustees of St. Luke’s Hospital.
Post 210 Commander Pete Scott presented the award to Johnson, whose performance has been deemed so inspiring by the State American Legion Office that he has also been named the American Legion Department of PA Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. He will receive that award at their annual convention in July 2023.
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