Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Happy Birthday Mike. I love you and miss you.

Melissa Johnson

December 11, 2004

My heart felt sorrow for the family of Sgt. Johnson. I have been an officer for 15 years and am 39 yoa. My first and last thoughts of the day are my family and safety first at work. Its always tough when I read something like what happened to Sgt. Johnson and keeps me 'at the ready' when at work. God bless and may god keep you by his side.

Ptlmn. John R. Whittle
Chatham PD, Chatham,MA

December 11, 2004

Happy Birthday, Big Guy! Love you.
Uncle Bill

Bill Johnson

December 11, 2004

Happy Birthday Michael. Can't believe this is the second one without you. I think about you everyday. I love you.

Patti
sister

December 10, 2004

Thinking of you today & everyday. Happy Birthday Mike! We all miss you SO much.

Theresa
A Friend

December 10, 2004

Happy Birthday, Michael.
Dan

Dan Johnson

December 10, 2004

I was thinking about you today, Mike, as I do many days. You are in so many of our thoughts and prayers. Your spirit is so strong, we cannot help but hold you close to us, even still!! I know all the boys in green and gold think of you constantly. Every time my husband or one of his brother troopers calls in a pursuit, I stop and think of you. When the spike strips get thrown across the road, I pray for you to watch over them, to keep them safe. Your legacy lives on and your brothers and sisters at VSP and all of their families will never ever forget you and the sacrifice you made. Kerrie and the entire Johnson family-We grieve with you still, we celebrate the life of Mike with you, and of course we wish with everything we have that he was still here with us, gracing us with his smile. A brother Trooper's wife.....

Britain Paquette

November 15, 2004

As I look at your picture Mike, I know right before they clicked your picture, you were making wise cracks and funny faces. You probably had to have your picture taken 3 or 4 times so that you didn't have your tongue sticking out or some funny face. Did you ask the camera man to "pull my finger"? I bet you did, and I bet he fell for it, just like the rest of us. We really miss you Mike. You will never be forgogtten.

October 18, 2004

Mike,
Rivendell Tournament, we played with our hearts but didn't win a game. We missed your loud voice cheering. You would have been so proud of Grady and the rest of the team, they never gave up! Two more games and the season is over. How we all wish you were still a part of our lives. 3-4 grade soccer team

October 16, 2004

Mike,
Rivendell Tournament, we played with our hearts but didn't win a game. We missed your loud voice cheering. You would have been so proud of Grady and the rest of the team, they never gave up! Two more games and the season is over. How we all wish you were still a part of our lives. 3-4 grade soccer team

October 16, 2004

Mike,
You are sadly missed. Time has passed by the pain is still deep. Your sense of humor and jokes are missed at 3rd and 4th grade soccer. We all know YOU would have been the coach out there showing Grady and the rest of the troops how to "play" the way the big boys play. We know you are smiling down on the team and watching over all of them each day. Our community is watching over Kerrie and the kids. We love you and miss you!

October 8, 2004

Mike I am a native Vermonter who came out to Utah to study criminal justice in hopes of becoming a Vermont State Trooper just as you are still eventhough you are not with us now. You are a great man and I am glad there are troopers like you willing to sacrifice everything for the greater good of our society. I am in the hiring process of the Vermont State Police and every step of the way I will remember you and your family. You are a great man and may god watch over you and keep your family safe brother. We all miss you and can't wait to see you again.

Justin Avery Godfrey
Pepsi Bottling Group Hurricane, Utah

October 6, 2004

I remember so clearly the surreal day that my son became missing. I made the frantic call to 911 and sat and prayed and waited for help to arrive. I was so thankful to see you arrive. I was so thankful to have your reassuring presence while waiting for the search dog to arrive, so thankful that it was you who would run with the dog.

How many times did I drive by the barracks and think of stopping to say thank you? How many times did I see you on the street, in the post office, and think of bringing my son over to meet you and say this is your hero. Every time I told myself that I would bring him to meet you when he was older and he could understand what you really did for him, for us, that day. I can't tell you how sorely I regret that he never got to meet you.

I hope with all of my heart that you saw the thank you we put in the paper.

I want you to know that I found this memorial to you, and I read it with my son. I showed him your picture and I said this is your hero. He understands now. He remembers. He knows that you are his hero. And we both thank you. Our hero.

Thankful
Bradford Area Citizen

September 20, 2004

Michael, I couldn't be there with your family this week but I wore your button everyday and cried and prayed. I'd like to say that now "it's all over" but for those of us who knew you and loved you, it will never be "over".
Love, Aunt Maureen

September 17, 2004

Michael we lost another great human being, fellow trooper "heater", take care of him.

Friend

September 4, 2004

Hi Mike, Just wanted to let you know that I was thinking about you. More than a year now..... I started a scholarship in your name for Whitcomb graduates. I know you are pleased that the first one went to Rachel Hunt. All you out there that read these, know that Mike was very special to soooo many!!! We miss HIM so Bye for now

Sandy Gilderdale, friend

August 19, 2004

MJ,
I friend. Well, he arrived. My son was born on july 28th. I wish you were around to meet him. I spoke with Dan Bedell the other night. We were talking about you while he was waiting out a hurricane in Tampa. Take care friend.

Ptl. Daniel Eickenberg
Shelburne, Vt. PD

August 15, 2004

Although we never met we share a common bond, State Police. You gave your all as a fellow State Police Officer. Thank you, and may God be with your family and friends and fellow Troopers. Vermont will not forget you and State Police Officers nation wide will always call you Brother. 10-42 but not forgotten

Master Trooper ( Retired )
Virginia State Police

August 13, 2004

Mike,
I was born and raised in Vermont but we hadnt had the pleasure of meeting. I wanted you to know the reason I became a police officer was because of men like you. I only hope I can impact the lives in my career as you did in yours. God Bless.

Agent Paul J.
North Carolina State Police

August 8, 2004

Its hard to put into words exactly what impact the stories like yours have on young men like me, just starting out their careers, blue eyed and bushy tailed. I knew of your story because of someone who would turn out to be a mutual friend, Mary. She told me your story when I told her mine, and as I look accross all of the pages of ODMP, its hard for me to find much of a difference between any of them. All of these stories are of the heroes, and the selfless sacrifiers of our communities, who day in and day out put their own lives on the line to protect our communities. Its not for the money, or the glory, or the thanks. Its because of the pride we can have in what we do, and the bond of brotherhood we feel with our fellow officers and personell.

It is obvious to me as I read your reflections that you were very loved, and very admired. I think as a Law Enforcement Officer, and a human, that can be my greatest struggle.

Sir, I salute you, let us carry on this watch in the heroic fashion with which you patrolled yours. The watch is ours sir, rest in piece.

"Go walk a beat on heavens street, you've done your time in hell"

SC B. Leland
Stockton Police Department - Stockton, Ca

July 31, 2004

Hi Mike. We tried this year. It's not the same without you. I missed you in your apron making us pancakes. I missed you slathering the kids in sunblock. I missed seeing you jog along the road with your sweats. I missed your big smile and your presence. But, most of all, Mike, I just miss you. Everday. I love you.

Patti
sister

July 10, 2004

well mike its been a year i cant believe its been that long i miss seeing you at the post office or just on the street, its been hard on your family and i can understand how they must feel my heart goes out to them and i hope in time they can heel and be with you again,, god bless you all rest in peice my friend my hero

friend

June 28, 2004

“Heroes aren’t born, they’re made.”

I miss you so much. After your funeral, I spent a lot of time wishing that I had the chance to spend more time with you, but now I know to be thankful for the time we had. I was lucky to have you in my life.

I’m glad that I got to spend some time with Reilly, Grady and Mick during National Police Week. They’re growing up so fast! You must be so proud of them. They’re each a reflection of you in their own little way.

I think of you and your family every day. I love you.

Melissa

June 16, 2004

Hey Mike,

I can't believe it has been a year. The hurt inside is not "one year hurt" it is a moment ago hurt. People say it gets easier...I must say I don't believe them. You must know we will never forget you. Who knew there were so many police officers out there with your stature? Every time I see an officer with your frame I think when he turns around it is going to be you and I feel such a sense of relief. Unfortunately, when he does turn around...it is not you. I don't think I can accept that...that it will never be you.

I remember when I was growing up all the good natured ribbing and pranks you used to do that at the time embarrassed me to death. I would give anything to be embarrassed now. You had such a sense of life about you it is impossible not to miss you. Life will never be the same for us Mike. You are/were everything life represents.

I know we should be happy and celebrating life but on this day...it is especially difficult. I miss you Mike.

Sara Gilderdale
Family Friend

June 15, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are often with you and your family, but especially today. Like everyone else, I can't believe it has been a year since that terrible day. My sadness is as deep today as it was then.

Love,
Aunt Maureen

June 15, 2004