California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 88

Introduced by Assembly Member Campos

June 16, 2015

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 88—Relative to the San Jose Police Officer Michael Johnson Memorial Highway.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 88, as introduced, Campos. San Jose Police Officer Michael Johnson Memorial Highway.

This measure would designate a portion of State Highway Route 87 in the City of San Jose as the San Jose Police Officer Michael Johnson Memorial Highway. The measure would also request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering the costs, to erect those signs.

Fiscal committee: yes.

WHEREAS, San Jose Police Officer Michael “Mike” Jeremiah
Johnson was born on December 4, 1976. At the time he was born,
Mike’s father, Daniel Johnson, was a military police officer in the
United States Army, who, after his discharge from the army,
became a member of the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department,
and Mike and his family moved to Wilseyville, California; and

WHEREAS, After his parents’ divorce, Mike and his mother,
Katherine Decker, and his sister, Jamie Radack, moved to the City
of San Jose in 1988, where Mike attended Gunderson High School
and became captain of the school’s chess team. Mike’s first job
was delivering newspapers on his bicycle for the San Jose Mercury
News, and, after graduation from high school in 1995, Mike took
classes at West Valley College while working as an audio-visual
specialist at Radio Shack and later at The Good Guys electronics
store. He began studying jujitsu, ultimately earning a black belt
and becoming an instructor to children; and

WHEREAS, Mike’s ultimate goal and desire was to become a
police officer and serve his community. Mike joined the San Jose
Police Academy in 2001 and graduated on June 15, 2001. As a
member of San Jose’s police force, Officer Johnson was a dedicated
and highly regarded officer who had a strong sense of duty and
great pride in being a police officer. He was beloved in the
community because he always had a genuine smile and a natural
ability to engage people in conversation; and

WHEREAS, On March 24, 2015, Officer Johnson and his
partner, Doug Potwora, responded to an emergency call involving
a suicidal man who was threatening his wife in a domestic violence
dispute. When they arrived, the suspect, armed with a high-powered
rifle, opened fire on the officers from behind an enclosed balcony.
Tragically, the suspect fatally shot Officer Johnson. The suspect
was later shot and killed by Officer Potwora, whose heroic efforts
likely saved several more lives; and

WHEREAS, During his 14 years with the San Jose Police
Department, Officer Johnson worked as a patrolman and court
liaison. He also specialized in prescription drug fraud crimes and
had recently been promoted to field training officer. Officer
Johnson was a member of the Specialist Rifle Program and an
expert marksman. He proved his skills each year when he and his
father competed together at the United States Police and Fire
Championships, where he won numerous medals. Officer Johnson
will be inducted into the Police and Fire Championships’ Hall of
Fame this year; and

WHEREAS, Officer Johnson is survived by his wife, Nicole,
his parents, Daniel Johnson and Katherine Decker, his step parents
Dann Decker and Penny Johnson, his grandmother, Frances
Guillemin, and his sister, Jamie Radack; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate to memorialize the service and
sacrifice of Officer Johnson by designating a portion of State
Highway Route 87 in the City of San Jose in his honor; now,
therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the
portion of State Highway Route 87 between State Highway Route
85 and Interstate 280 in the City of San Jose as the San Jose Police
Officer Michael Johnson Memorial Highway; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested
to determine the cost of appropriate signs consistent with the
signing requirements for the state highway system showing this
special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate
sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author
for appropriate distribution.