Assistant Chief Bryan Johnson Retires After Decades of Dedicated Service with the Statesville Police Department
Assistant Chief Bryan Johnson’s journey into law enforcement started the way many good stories do, with curiosity and a ride along.
As a high school student, he came to the Statesville Police Department for ride alongs and quickly realized he had found his calling. He was hooked and knew this was the career for him.
In 1992, Chief Johnson got his foot in the door as a part-time Police Service Aide, earning $5.00 an hour. He jokes that it was never about the paycheck, it was about the opportunity.
As a civilian employee, he patrolled in a marked vehicle with amber lights, took reports for non-emergency calls, directed traffic, unlocked cars, and helped patrol however he could. It was a humble start, but it was strategic. His goal was to earn sponsorship for BLET and become a sworn officer. After completing BLET, he served about a year as a reserve officer before being hired full time with SPD.
Over the years, he served in many roles, but his time in the Narcotics Unit stands out as one of his favorites. The unit was tight knit and worked side by side almost as much as they were with their own families. They built strong cases, removed drugs from the streets, and built lifelong friendships along the way. He will tell you they worked hard, but they also laughed hard.
One of his proudest accomplishments was helping facilitate the acquisition of an incinerator to safely destroy drugs and prescriptions. Through a partnership with Troutman Police Department, Mooresville Police Department, and DACI, that idea became reality and strengthened the region’s fight against narcotics.
As a District Captain, he shifted focus toward working with the homeless population, particularly on the east side of the city.
Partnering with SPD’s Community Resource Coordinator, he helped create the Iredell Homeless Collaborative, bringing together service and resource providers across the community. He is especially proud of the progress that group continues to make and the lives that have been positively impacted through collaboration and persistence.
If you know him, you know that his career would not be complete without a good story. In the late 1990s, during a slow night in narcotics, dispatch issued a BOLO with a very unique suspect description. His partner decided to have a little fun and called dispatch from a payphone claiming he knew exactly where the suspect was, but only if the Crime Stoppers money was involved. The back and forth with the telecommunicator went on until they could not hold their laughter any longer. Thankfully, dispatch appreciated the humor once they realized what was happening.
As he retires, Chief Johnson says what he will miss most is the family-like atmosphere at SPD and the people he has worked alongside throughout the years. He values the friendships, the teamwork, and the opportunity to help members of the community who just needed someone to care enough to point them in the right direction.
Retirement will give him more time with family and more time in the garage. He plans to restore his 1970 Chevy C10 pickup truck with its built 383 stroker engine, a special birthday gift from his father. His goal is to get it road ready and take his dad out for a well-deserved cruise.
For those just beginning their careers in law enforcement, Chief Johnson offers advice that reflects both his heart and his humor. Be patient and be kind. Build strong relationships with your squad and make it enjoyable to come to work. Treat citizens the way you would want your own family treated. Take your time. The specialized units and promotions will come. The years go by faster than you think.
Looking back, he says he would do it all over again with no regrets.
“It has been a great ride.”
Congratulations, Assistant Chief Johnson, on an outstanding career of service, leadership, and heart.
