Perry P.D. remembers Lt. Jack L. Johnson, III

Lieutenant Jack Lowell Johnson III of the Perry Police Department passed away on Friday, January 29 after a brave battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia that began in April 2021. Those that knew and loved him, and particularly, those who worked alongside him raved about the legacy he leaves behind—sometimes through tears.

Overcome with emotion, Perry Police Chief Steve Lynn said, “I can talk about Jack all night. He was a part of our family. We’re very tight knit. Jack always had our back, and even now, we’ve got his.”

Lynn shared that when he was hired from the outside to lead Perry Police Department in 2013, Lt. Johnson was already there. Lynn called it a “pleasure” to work with Johnson for nine years.

“He was a great guy; a leader in the department. He always had a ready smile and a friendly word. I have nothing but good to say about him—outstanding person, outstanding police officer. He was a great family man and he was a dedicated member at Piney Grove Baptist Church.”

Lt. Chris Sutcliff said that he and Johnson were almost hired at the same time.

“I think we were only separated by about eight or nine months,” he recalled. “Initially, they were supposed to hire five officers at once, but they ended up hiring three in 1996 and two more in 1997. Jack got hired with the first crew and me and another guy came on at the beginning of ’97.”

Sutcliff said what he will probably remember most about Lt. Johnson is the way he had a gift for bridging gaps and bringing peace in sometimes chaotic situations.

“The thing about Jack is that I don’t think you’ll ever talk to anyone who won’t say he was outgoing, friendly, happy and very personable,” Sutcliff stated. “Jack didn’t meet a stranger. I mean, seriously… we would go on a call and have to arrest somebody who wanted to fight with us to resist being arrested, and after that guy was in handcuffs, Jack would talk to him and within about 20 minutes, the guy was his buddy,” Sutcliff said with a laugh. “That was just Jack.”

Sutcliff remembered many times when he would go on calls and get to the home where the trouble was and hear the residents asking for Johnson, wanting to know if he could be called to the site.

“Jack could go on a call one time, and the people would remember him forever. There are calls I’ve been on three times, and the people still don’t know me. I honestly don’t know how Jack did it. He just had an infectious personality.”

Recalling a time, no too long ago when racial tensions ran at an all-time high across America—especially between law enforcement and African Americans, Sutcliff said Johnson was instrumental in helping to keep peace in the Perry community.

“People don’t necessarily like to talk about this, but we’ve had some issues with law enforcement in the last two years across the nation. We saw all of the use of force issues and the Black Lives Matters protests. To have Jack, who was an African American officer, to talk to people and bridge the gap was incredible,” Sutcliff said. “He would say, ‘Hey, let’s understand what it is you’re worried about, and then let’s talk about what we’re worried about. Let’s talk about it.’

“There were a lot of times that we would go to a call, and I could instantly feel like they didn’t want me there because there’s a bad narrative, and as far as they were concerned, every cop was bad. But Jack could step in and say, ‘Hey, what’s the problem? Let’s talk about this,’ and the next thing you’d know, they’d be apologizing.

“Jack was able to build a bridge across two races and get people to understand that not everything they saw on the news was happening—at least, not here. Perry PD isn’t Baltimore PD; we’re not LAPD, and what’s happening in those cities isn’t happening down here. He had a rare gift of being able to get people to see reality. That’s invaluable.”

His seemingly innate ability to bring calm to situations was also reflected in Johnson’s position as a primary instructor for the department’s RITE (Race Intelligence Training and Education) program. Retired Perry Police Major Bill Phelps said Johnson’s attitude and demeanor made him a good officer and a great fit for the program.

Phelps remembered when Johnson was first brought on to the police force. He revealed that, “Me and Captain Dykes recruited him.”

Prior to becoming a sworn officer of the law, Johnson had been managing a department store in Perry. Phelps and Dykes went to the store, talked to him and convinced him to apply for a position at Perry PD. Phelps remembered Johnson earning his way through the ranks, becoming a School Resource Officer (SRO) at Perry Middle, a shift sergeant, being promoted to lieutenant and even becoming a shift supervisor.

“When he reached that capacity, he and other supervisors would run the police department when the major or the chief wasn’t in. He had to make important decisions if we couldn’t be reached, and he was good at that.”

Phelps called Johnson a mentor, a leader and a wonderful model for other police officers to follow. The major indicated that Johnson had a knack for helping other officers redeem themselves if they ever found themselves being sent to Phelps’ office for reprimand.

“I remember this one time that an officer got in trouble and I sent for him. What I remember is that when the officer was talking to me, he said all the right things in order for me to make a decision about that particular incident.” Laughing, Phelps continued. “Later on, I talked to the officer, and I told him he’d done a great job of presenting to me, and he said, ‘Major, I got to tell you the truth. Lt. Johnson coached me and told me what I needed to say; so I need to give him the credit for that.’”

A man who always had a positive attitude and a winning smile, Phelps said it was sometimes hard to believe that Johnson was battling such a serious illness.

“When I’d go see him, sometimes I’d say, ‘Are you sure you’re sick, or are you just saying you are?’ He never looked sick to me. He was always healthy-looking and smiling. It wasn’t until toward the end that he started looking ill.”

Shortly before Johnson’s passing, a fundraiser was set in place to help his wife and children pay for his medical treatments. According to Chief Lynn, it’s still ongoing, as the bills still must be paid.

“Corporal Gary is handling it,” Lynn said. “She’s still the contact person, or people can go to our Facebook page and see how to give.”

Johnson will be remembered as a great man of faith who loved his wife, children, mother, brothers and the citizens of Perry.

“The people here admired him,” Major Phelps said. “I enjoyed knowing him, and I’m thankful that God sent him our way at PPD nearly 26 years ago. When you find somebody like Jack, it’s impossible to replace him.”

Lt. Sutcliff agreed, saying, “I can’t even put it into words the type of man he was. There are few guys on the planet that I can say I love. I love my two brothers. I love my father. I love my son. And I love Jack.” With emotions trembling his voice, Sutcliff added. “I’m going to miss Jack every day, and I hope this article can bring his family a little bit of happiness and let his sons know how much Jack meant to so many people and the impact he had on everybody he met.”

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